PRI0CILIA 

Housekeepers 



jVerudau fjousekecping 
oenes - Vol. 2 

The Priscilfei Publishing Co., Boston, Mass. 



iPrfectlla 
Help* for Jtous-efeeeper* 

Cfje gbeconb J&ook of llje 

Cberpbap housekeeping Series; 



A COLLECTION OF EVERYDAY HOUSEKEEPING "HELPS" 

GARNERED FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF NEARLY 

500 PRACTICAL PRISCILLA HOUSEWIVES 



Edited by 

THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF 

THE MODERN PRISCILLA 



PRICE, 25 CENTS 



PUBLISHED BY 

Cf)f $rt£iriUa rPubligtnng Company 

85 BROAD STREET. BOSTON. MASS. 



Copyright, 1915, by The Priscilla Publishing Company 

Trade Mark Reg. U. S. Patent Office 

All rights reserved 

Copyright in Creat Britain and the Colonies 



CONTENTS v W\W 



PAGE 

Outside the House i 

Helps with Flowers 2 

Decorative Helps 3 

Library Suggestions 4 

Helps with Home-Made Furniture 5 

Concerning Walls and Windows 6 

All About Stoves 7 

Secrets in Cooking 8, g, io 

Economies in Household Planning n 

Economies in the Kitchen 12 

Frills with Meat and Eggs 13 

Tricks with Cakes and Frostings 14 

Helps at Preserving Time IS 

Ways with Vegetables 16 

Suggestions for Pie Making 17 

Helps with Kitchen Utensils 18 

Helps in the Laundry 19 

Helps in Starching and Laundering Colored Garments .... 20 

Helps in Ironing and Cleaning Fabrics 21 

AH Sorts of Stains 22 

Helps with Floors and Floor Coverings 23 

Helps about the Dining Room 24 

Helps with Linen 25 

Helps when Entertaining 26 

Serving for Family and Guest 27 

Helps with Glass and China 28 

At House Cleaning Time 29 

Cleaning This and That 30 

Cleaning and Dyeing 31 

Things Good to Know 32 

Little Things to Remember 33 

Helps with Personal Belongings 34 

Little Things about the House 35 

Helps in the Sick Room 36 

Helps in the Bedroom 37 

Helps with Children 38 

Helps with Shoes and Stockings ' . . . -39 

Toilet Helps 40 

When Thinking of Others 41 

Helps when Shopping and Traveling 42 





g)CU4H998 



DEC 10 1915 



Outside the House 



A Lawn or A lawn seat may be 
Hall Seat made from a discarded 
wooden bedstead. Use 
the footboard for the back. Insert the 
side rails and measure the width desired 
for the seat (about eighteen inches). Saw 
these off. Saw the front legs from the 
head-board and use the remainder of it for 
the seat-board. Paint to harmonize with 
house. — Mrs. J. H. F. 

For the Camper'* Stout manila envelopes 
Napkin* w ' tn *' le owner's name 

on the front make good 
napkin-holders for between meals, particu- 
larly where there are a number of napkins 
to be kept separate, as on camping trips, 
informal house-parties, etc. We have also 
used clothespins (the ones with a spring) 
for our family reunions, the name being 
printed with India Ink on the flat side 
of the pin. — G. C. H. 

A Condensed When one has little 
Bonfire space and must burn 

papers in an alley or 
small yard where there is danger of small 
bits flying and setting fire to near-by prop- 
erty try the following plan : Buy galvan- 
ized chicken wire fencing and make a wire 
basket in which to place the papers. Cross 
wires in the bottom a few inches from the 
ground to let the air pass under. — K. K. 

On the Veranda We had several palms 
in large tubs on our ve- 
randa and were greatly troubled by our 
playful kittens scattering the soil over the 
floor until we conceived the idea of cover- 
ing the soil with window-screen wire, cut 
to fit the top of the tub. After this we had 
no trouble, and they could climb all over 
the palms without doing any harm. Cut 
the wire the full size of the top of the 
tub. then cut a circle in the centre for the 
stem and slit it from the centre to the edge 
and slip in place. Tack lightly to the edge 
of the tub. The roots can be watered 
through the wire. — Mrs. H. J. B. 

A Home-made We have made a ham- 
Hammock mock, which we find 
very enjoyable, out of a 
spring cot. We took the legs off and turned 
them up, nailing securely and connecting 
with a strip of one by three across the top 
of the back. We hung it from the limbs 
of trees with a heavy rope and tacked 
striped ticking on the ends and back, put 
in the mattress and some pillows. This 
cost us nothing, as we had the material 
on hand. Such a hammock is delightful in 
summer and equally so in winter if hung 
in the attic or some unused room as a jest- 
ing spot. — Mrs. G. H. C. 




For the Camper't 
Napkin* 




An Adaptable Folding 
Awning 




A Home Made 
Hammock 



Water-proof Many of us have en- 
Matche* countered the annoying 

experience of finding 
ourselves miles from a store and all the 
matches in our possession so damp that 
they cannot be used. A fact worth know- 
ing is that matches can be made water- 
proof, without injury, by dipping them 
in very hot melted paraffin. Allow them 
to cool and they are ready for use. The 
paraffin does not interfere with their use 
in the regular way, and they are abso- 
lutely protected from dampness. It is well 
to remember this when the spring and 
summer fishing and camping trips com- 
mence. 

An Adaptable This adaptable and coin- 
Folding Awning fortable awning is bet- 
ter than a mere um- 
brella in that it allows more shade and a 
freer amount of circulation. Following is 
the mode of making: Buy four bamboo or 
cane poles about five feet long and fasten 
a brass hook into the top of each one. 
Now take four yards of material, one yard 
wide, either heavy unbleached muslin or 
dark green denim (either is soft and pli- 
able). Cut goods into two-yard lengths 
and sew the strips together, making a four- 
yard square. Hem all four edges and at 
each corner sew a good sized brass eye to 
fasten over the hooks in the poles. Now 
drive your poles one foot into the earth 
or sand — wherever you have elected to 
pitch your habitation, about two yards 
apart in a square, and when you have ad- 
justed your top to it you will have a four- 
yard area of shade open to the cooling 
breezes in which four people can sit com- 
fortably. The chief joy of this awning 
is the fact that it can be easily carried, 
and as readily moved from place to place 
without inconvenience. — R. T. N. 

A Cheap A cheap refrigerator that 
Refrigerator for may be used in the sum- 
Campers mer cottage or for any 
emergency "camping 
time" is made by using a large iron wash- 
tub, a large granite pail, and a square of 
thin boards (cleated together) large enough 
to cover the tub. Use old table oilcloth 
to cover one side of this square, tacking 
along the edges with small furniture tacks. 
Wash well a small piece of ice and place 
in the pail. Fold a clean bath-towel and 
cover the ice pail. Place in centre of tub 
and your butter, meat, milk, etc., around 
the pail in the tub. You will have room 
for fruit, tomatoes, etc., between the other 
dishes. Then cover the tub with any clean 
white cloth and lay on the board top with 
the oilcloth cover down. Set the tub in 
a cool place and the ice will last for twenty- 
four hours. — Mrs. E. F. K. 



Helps with Flowers 



Geranium Tree* The burly Scotch gar- 
d e n e r showing us 
through the greenhouses smiled as we ad- 
mired the luxuriant geranium and helio- 
trope trees. "You could grow these just 
as well," he declared, "simply keep all the 
side shoots trimmed off the little plant un- 
til it is at least twelve inches high, then 
let it branch out and you'll find you have 
as nice a little tree as you could wish. 
These are particularly pretty to grow for 
the autumn house plants. On leaving he 
gave us each a tiny heliotrope. I treated 
mine as he advised, and obtained a stocky 
little tree which is more interesting than 
an ordinary plant. — M. D. 

Rubber Plant When the rubber-plant 
droops, and its leaves 
turn yellow and drop off, mix a teaspoon- 
ful of mustard in a cup of boiling water, 
cool slightly and pour on the soil in the pot. 
Sometimes a long, black, hard-shelled worm 
comes to the top, and if this is killed the 
plant will generally recover. — Mrs. C. P. 

To Preserve Dip the flowers in melt- 
Natural Flower* e d paraffin, withdraw- 
ing them quickly. The 
liquid should only be hot enough to main- 
tain its fluidity, and the flowers should be 
dipped one at a time, held by the stem and 
moved about for an instant to get rid of 
the air bubbles. Fresh flowers that are 
free from moisture make excellent 
specimens. — Mrs. N. M. M. 

A Table Two years ago when 

Ornament serving grapefruit I 
planted some of the seeds 
in a flower-pot. Now I have four little 
grapefruit trees. With their dark green 
glossy leaves they make a beautiful table 
decoration, and there is no tropical plant 
more easily grown. — Mrs. S. E. B. 

Resetting Ferns When resetting ferns, 
after placing soil around 
the roots place sawdust between that and 
the top soil and moisten it. The sawdust 
retains the moisture and the result is 
excellent. — Mrs. J. M. C. 

Fertilizer for Dissolve thoroughly in 
House Plants a P' nt ° f boiling water, 
four ounces of sulphate 
of ammonia and two ounces of nitrate of 
potash. Bottle the liquid and cork tightly. 
Use a teaspoonful to three quarts of water. 
It stimulates growth better than liquid 
manure and is entirely inoffensive. A few 
drops put into the water of hyacinth 
glasses makes the bloom stalks richer in 
color and stronger, and has the further 
merit of being obnoxious to the white 
worms which attack the plants. — C. J. S. 




Geranium Tree* 




Rambler Rose Safeguard 




Sending Flowers An excellent receptacle 
in a Mailing for sending flowers by 
Tube P ost i s a mailing tube. 

Lay the flowers upon a 
sheet of waxed paper in such a shape that 
they will fit the tube. Sprinkle lightly with 
water. Place a bunch of wet cotton or tis- 
sue-paper at the ends of the stems. Roll 
the flowers up carefully in the paper and 
twist the ends securely. Slide them into the 
tube. The paper which wraps the tube 
should be large enough to tuck in well at 
the ends to prevent the flowers from slip- 
ping. — M. E. S. 

Rambler Rose A neighbor of mine who 
Safeguard ha s beautiful rambler 
rose bushes told me that 
the little green denim bags that hung here 
and there among the bushes contained moth 
balls. A friend had told her that she could 
keep vermin off her rose bushes in this way 
and to her surprise she found that it 
worked beyond her expectations. They 
should be hung there just as soon as the 
bushes begin to leaf in the spring. — F. F. 



Strong Plants 
from Seed 



Plant Stand for 
Small Room 



To make plants, grown 
from seed, stocky, fill 
the box about half full 
of soil when the seeds are first planted, and 
as the little seedlings grow up spindling, 
add more soil until the box is about full. 
The plants will be stocky and have fine 
roots for planting out-of-doors by the time 
the box is filled with soil. — S. P. K. 

To Keep If you wish to send 

Flowers Fresh flowers to a distance, 
push the stem ends into 
pieces of raw potato. Line a pasteboard box 
with dampened cotton, lay the flowers in and 
cover with another sheet of damp cotton. 
In this way they will stay fresh for a long 
time. — Mrs. C. C. 

Plant Stand for Not wishing to mar the 
Small Room window-casing by put- 
ting up supports for 
shelves, I had a carpenter make me a plant- 
stand like the illustration. The back legs 
are perpendicular, so that the stand can be 
set closely against the window. The front 
legs slant out at the bottom, thus acting 
as braces and also giving a greater width 
to the lower shelf and more room for 
flowers. From the lower shelf I hung a 
pretty curtain. The upper shelf is ten 
inches wide, the lower, twelve. — Mrs. P. G. 

Kitchen A pretty and useful idea 

Decoration f° r kitchen decoration is 

a few pots of parsley in 

the windows. It is always ready to garnish 

dishes and is an attractive companion to 

watch. — Mrs. E. J. P. 



Decorative Helps 



Flower To utilize for flower re- 

Receptacles ceptacles the many beau- 
tiful jars and bowls of 
Indian and Mexican pottery, and other 
wares through which water percolates and 
forms a dampness ruinous to line furni- 
ture, etc. : Heat paraffin wax, in double 
boiler, and, having the vessel slightly 
warmed to prevent cracking, pour in the 
liquid wax and keep turning and twisting 
the bowl or vase until every portion is 
covered with the paraffin, and it is cold. 
As only cold water is used for flowers, the 
vase will never leak. — M. L. P. 

Novel Portieres Handsome portieres re- 
sembling those of beads 
can be made by gathering in the autumn, 
and stringing in strings of strong linen 
thread, the bright seed pods of the sweet 
briar rose. Before being hung on tiny 
brass hooks, screwed into the door casing 
or a stick, to be placed in the doorway later, 
they should be hung where they can dry 
thoroughly. A thin coat of varnish or 
shellac greatly improves their appearance 
and makes them durable. — F. J. B. 

Stenciling with I wonder how many am- 
Crayons ateur stencilers know 

how successfully ordi- 
nary colored crayons may be used as a sub- 
stitute for oil-paints or water-colors? 
Place the stencil on the material in the 
usual way, then fill in the design with the 
crayons in the same way as if one were 
using paints, and when all the pattern has 
been transferred, press with a hot iron. 
Before washing article so stenciled, soak 
first in a solution of salt and water to set 
the colors. — Mrs. T. A. O. 

Artistic Lanterns My studio is a large at- 
tic with great oak raft- 
ers. Wishing to use candle light I thought 
of making pierced brass candle-lanterns, 
but it required too much time to make and 
properly shape them, and it occurred to me 
to use empty tin cans of a good size and of 
"brassy" hue. I made a paper pattern of 
right demensions and pasted it upon the 
can. Then I fitted the can upon a round 
piece of wood and pierced the pattern by 
aid of a common small punch and hammer, 
also two rows on the bottom close to the 
rim. Remove the paper, which should be 
lightly pasted at joining ends and perhaps 
one or two other places, and the lantern is 
ready to be hung. Pierce three holes in 
the top of rim of the can and insert three 
small chains about fourteen inches long. 
(I obtained a small box for twenty-five 
cents which contained twelve yards of fine 
brass chain.) Join the other ends of chains 
in a small brass ring. 
Inside the can drop a bit of hot candle 




Home Decoration 




Novel Portieres 




Home-Made 
Shirt- Waist Boxes 



grease and quickly press a small can-cover 
upon it. Any baking-powder-can cover will 
do. Then, repeat the same process in the 
cover to hold the candle in place. When 
lit the effect is charming. The little can- 
cover put inside keeps the candle grease 
from dripping through the bottom perfo- 
rations to the floor. — J. F. M. 

Home Artificial roses latticed 

Decoration across the windows are 
among the favorite de- 
vices of the professional decorators at the 
large balls, and suggest a charming deco- 
ration for a home wedding. Cut a square 
of pasteboard to fit across the inside of 
the smaller windows, making a lattice-work 
across it with white listing, and on this 
pin long festoons of pink or red rambler 
roses. — Mary V. 

Bungalow Ideas A beautifully primitive 
bungalow I know with 
bark still on its rafters and rough stone 
within and without for the walls, boasts a 
dome for the dining-room light which is 
nothing but an inverted peach-basket stained 
green and attached to the ceiling rafters by 
means of three dog-chains. The candle- 
sticks in the other rooms are nothing but 
short sections of birch branches with a 
hollow dug in the middle to receive the 
candle; and birch twigs nailed so the walls 
serve as hooks to hold clothing. — M. A. 

Unsightly In an old house that had 
Gas Fixtures been modernized, we 
found the clumsy brass 
gas fixtures not only hideous but hopelessly 
out of harmony with hardwood floors and 
simple furniture. We stripped off the heavy 
gilding and exposed the foundation of plain 
half-inch gas pipe. Two coats of dull black 
paint gave a finish like wrought iron. The 
simple fine curves of the original designs 
of both brackets and chandeliers, when 
stripped of the ornate covering of 
tarnished gilt, were unobtrusive and indeed 
beautiful. — Mary S. 

Old Chenille To use up old chenille 
Curtains curtains, ravel, cutting 

the warp each inch or 
two. Wind four strands together on balls 
and weave as ordinary rag carpet is woven, 
using fine dark-colored warp. With skill 
and taste in arranging colors a good imita- 
tion Smyrna rug can be made. — S. B. F. 

Home-made Get a box of dc.sired 
Shirt-Waist size, hinge on the lid 
Boxes an d cover with tea mat- 

ting. At top and bottom 
of sides and on edge of lid tack half- 
round molding to cover rough edge of 
matting. 



Library Suggestions 



For Wrapping When I have received 
Package* packages by mail or 

, express, containing pic- 

tures, photographs, calendars, etc., and 
found a corner broken I have almost in- 
variably noticed that the wrappings came 
only to the edge of the article enclosed. In 
sending thin packages, particularly at the 
holiday season, I always cut pasteboard or 
corrugated paper larger all round than the 
article, then cut little notches in the sides to 
keep the cord in place, thus preventing any 
slipping. Many times a valuable article has 
been marred or spoiled through careless 
wrapping. — M. H. B. 

A Good Library Wanting a library table 
Table wc made a splendid one 

out of a common oblong 
kitchen table. We fitted a piece of dark 
green leather over the top, putting a round 
beading around the edge to hold the leather. 
Then we painted the sides and legs a dull 
dark green color, and we had a table that 
looked well enough for any library. — M. 

Typewriting In these days when type- 
Hint writers are so widely 
used in homes as well as 
offices, the following may be helpful — the 
hint was given me by my brother who is a 
typist. When making carbon copies and the 
carbon sheet seems ready to discard, try 
cutting off of one end the width of the type- 
writer space. You will in this way get the 
use of the space between the worn lines of 
the carbon. This cannot be realized until 
tried, but it is a considerable saving. — M. E. 

A Help for This is of particular 
Students interest to high school 

boys and girls, and for 
those who have to carry books for ref- 
erence. It has been used with a great 
saving of time and patience. In the back 
of each book, in a course where lectures are 
given or problems or exercises to be worked 
out, fasten a large envelope, or make one 
by fastening the ends and bottom of a large 
sheet of paper, to the sides and outside 
edge of the book in question. The opening 
for the papers will then be against the back 
of the book and they will be held firmly, 
saving the annoyance of having papers fly- 
ing every which-way when the book is 
dropped or opened, and they will be where 
they can be consulted in a moment. — E. K. 

Pretty Little The familiar little white 
Match Safes i ar s which hold extract 
of beef make very good 
match-holders. I have found the idea 
particularly helpful by placing them in a 
hallway or room in pairs, one for the un- 
used, the other for burnt matches. — E. G. 




A Good Library Table 




^=C* 



Pretty Little Match Safes 




A Home-made 
Magazine Stand 



A Home-made An attractive magazine- 
Magazine Stand stand may be made for 
about $1.50, by following 
the illustration given below. If one does 
not care to use good oak for this purpose 
until assured of success a trial stand could 
be made of cheap wood, which could be 
painted or stained and used in the children's 
room for toys and picture-books. — Mrs. G. 

The Troublesome Draw the cork from the 
Glue and mucilage bottle. Grease 

Mucilage Corks cork wel1 with lard and 
return. It will never 
stick again. — M. F. 

Passe-partout I keep rolls of passe- 
Tape partout tape in white, 
black, red, and brown, 
and am always finding new uses for them. 
The white, clipped into pieces and properly 
lettered, marks my fruit-jars and other 
kitchen cans, etc. Cracks in a cake-box 
where ants might have entered were first 
covered with the tape and then the box 
was painted. Clippings from magazines, 
torn by much handling, were made more 
lasting by a strip or more of this useful 
friend. Odds and ends of white paper may 
be cut into any desired size, clipped together 
and bound with the tape to make "im- 
promptu note-books." Pictures from 
magazines can be preserved by covering 
with a piece of glass and binding with the 
tape. If pictures are smaller than the glass 
paste them on a piece of soft-tinted card- 
board and cut the cardboard to fit the 
glass.— E. W. W. 

Uses for Paper A few of the wire paper- 
clips C ''P S u sed in offices are 
exceedingly useful to 
have on hand. When sewing long seams 
use them to fasten the edges of the cloth 
together and no basting will be necessary. 
Turn up a hem the desired depth and place 
the fasteners at the bottom edge to hold in 
place. This also saves basting. Every 
woman receives numerous circulars and 
advertising letters which are printed on just 
one side of the paper. Lay a number of 
such sheets together with plain sides up. 
Fasten sheets together at the top with a clip 
and you have a handy writing-pad, which 
costs nothing. — Mrs. I. M. K. 

When Stamps If stamps have become 
Are Stuck glued together do not 

Together soa k tnem ' n water ( t,K ' 

old method almost always 
used). Instead lay a thin paper over them 
and run a hot iron over it. They will pull 
apart easily and the mucilage will stay 
on them. — J. A. V. 



Helps with Home-made Furniture 



Modern Furniture An old-fashioned dresser 
from Old w ' tn side mirror and hat 
box was made over into 
a pleasing table in less than fifteen minutes 
with the aid of a screw-driver. The back 
and box-like compartment were removed 
from the base, and the mirror was removed 
and hung the other way. This was much to 
be preferred to the clumsy dresser which 
was hard to arrange tastefully. A long pin- 
cushion broke the line at the back of the 
top, which might otherwise have seemed 
abrupt.— A. M. P. 

A Sewing Chair My husband placed a 
drawer in the side of 
my sewing-chair. This little drawer slides 
under the seat of the rocker and is the 
most convenient place to keep my scissors, 
thread, thimble, and "pick-up work." Only 
upon close examination can this small 
drawer be detected. — Mrs. W. P. B. 

A Handy Work Secure a medium-sized 
Stand cheese-box, a round piece 

of board, a little smaller 
than the box, three pieces of wood for the 
legs, size i'A x iyi inches and 26 inches long. 
Saw a notch about J^-inch deep and the 
thickness of the board, which is to be used 
for an under shelf, on one edge in each of 
the three legs at a distance of 10 inches 
from the top. Slip the board into these 
notches and fasten with small nails. Brace 
the top of the legs with small strips of wood 
and nail the bottom of the box on to the 
legs. Sandpaper all over and stain. 

Cut a strip of suitable cloth long enough 
to go around the box and as wide as the 
box is high, allowing enough in width for 
turning under at top edge and for a seam 
on the bottom and a seam on ends. Cut 
another strip of cloth the same width and 
one-third of its length longer. Run a small 
hem in each edge of this and slightly gather 
about }$-inch from each edge, having the 
bottom gathered a little fuller than the top, 
so as to have sufficient looseness at the top. 
Stitch the gathered piece on to the plain 
piece at the bottom, letting the small ruffle 
at the bottom extend below the line of stitch- 
ing. Also stitch the two pieces together 
about every five inches, forming pockets, and 
seam together at ends on the wrong side. 
The upper edge of the top ruffle should be 
a little distance below the top of the plain 
cloth. Slip the cloth around the outside of 
the box and tack the plain cloth to the top 
of box, using a narrow gimp to hold it 
securely in place. Also tack at bottom on 
line of gathers. When complete this is a 
useful work-stand. The pockets are to keep 
thread, scissors, needles, buttons, etc., the 
box is to hold work, and the shelf is {or the 
'"many things." — Mrs. H. M. W. 




A Home-made Wardrobe 




A Sewing Chair 




The Old Bureau 



A Home-made I had a table four feet 
Cabinet w '^ c an d five feet long 

and I secured from my 
grocer six boxes of the sort that canned 
goods come in. I nailed them firmly one to 
another and the bottom ones to the table at 
the back. I covered table and shelves with 
oilcloth, hung a curtain across the front of 
the boxes, and I had as handy a kitchen- 
cabinet as one could wish for. Under the 
table I nailed cleats to support a wooden 
shelf on which I keep some of the kitchen 
utensils. — Mrs. E. W. 

A Home-made When one cannot go to 
Wardrobe the expense of buying a 
real wardrobe a fairly 
good substitute may be made from a large 
dry-goods box. Get a long box and stand 
it on end. Line the interior, either with 
wall-paper or cretonne, put in hangers, and 
paint or stain the outside any desired color. 
Put a ten-cent curtain rod across the front, 
and hang from it a pretty figured cretonne 
curtain. — Miss C. H. 

A Sewing Stand An excellent sewing- 
from a Camp stand can be made from 
Stool an old camp-stool. Re- 

move seat, stain or en- 
amel brown or white, get one yard brass 
chain, divide in half, tack this to posts on 
each side, so as to hold chair upright. 
Procure one and one-half yards of pretty 
cretonne, denim, or Art fabric, fold through 
middle, so as to have pattern on outside, 
now tack to cross pieces of frame with 
brass tacks, allowing three-fourths yard to 
hang down from between cross pieces, so 
as to form a bag with ends falling on out- 
side of cross pieces or turned up and 
stitched so as to form pockets for scissors, 
threads, etc. This little article of furniture 
will serve equally well for holding maga- 
zines, papers, or music. — G. M. A. 

The Old Many housekeepers have 

Bureau stowed away an old-fash- 

ioned bureau. This is 
what I did with mine. I unscrewed the 
cumbersome top and had the bureau moved 
to my sewing-room. The large lower 
drawer I use in place of a scrap-bag and 
to hold new material. All pieces of 
material left over I roll up and tie, placing 
them in this drawer. When I am looking 
for them it is not necessary to turn out 
the whole collection. I see it as soon as I 
open the drawer. The other large drawer 
I keep for unfinished work. When I am 
sewing I place the work in here out of the 
way. Ironing-day the things needing a 
stitch are laid in here so that when I can 
snatch a moment everything is in readiness. 
The two small drawers hold scissors, thread, 
button-boxes, tape, and all sewing utensils. 



Concerning Walls and Windows 



Substitute for I had no curtain rods 

Curtain Rod* and hung my curtains on 

a cord, but had to tighten 

the cord constantly. Finally I tried using 

wire instead of string and have had no 

trouble since. — L. E. 

Uniform I have found that the 

Curtains most satisfactory and 

economical way to cur- 
tain the windows on the second floor is to 
buy a bolt of pretty muslin ; make the 
curtains of a uniform length and the hems 
at top and bottom of an equal width. There 
are always three or four curtains more than 
I need, and by changing them about, using 
them in turn, I have not to solve the ques- 
tion of curtains again for from two to four 
years, according to the care used in launder- 
ing. — "Merit." 

Rings for White Get small screw-eyes, 
Shades open the eye wide enough 

to insert a large-sized 
ivory ring, then press together with pincers. 
With a small brush enamel the screw-eye 
with white paint and you have an attractive 
and serviceable ring for your white shades. 
These are easily cleaned with a damp cloth. 
— "Josephine." 

To Remove Wet a strip at a time 
Wall Paper w >th water in which 
pulverized saltpetre has 
been dissolved in proportion of one-fourth 
of a pound to one gallon of water. It soaks 
through very quickly and allows the paper 
to come off easily in strips as it was put 
on.— Mrs. M. W. U. 

To Clean Oil A slice of Irish potato 
Paintings W 'H clean oil paintings 

without injury, and dip- 
ped in soda is excellent to brighten silver. 
—Mrs. G. S. T. 

To Clean Rub all the dust off of 

Mirrors the mirror with a clean, 

damp cloth, then pour a 

little camphor on another cloth and rub over 

mirror. Let dry, then polish with a dry 

cloth. — Mrs. A. M. M. 

Painted If a dirty wall that is to 

Walls be painted be first given 

a coat of starch water 

the dirt may be brushed off with the starch 

when the latter dries, and gives a clean 

foundation for the new paint. 

Backs for Old When housecleaning we 
Picture Frames found some of the pic- 
tures would have to be 
taken apart and new backs put on. We 
bought table oilcloth and stretched on the 
back, gluing to the frame. It is so easy to 
clean and dust and I think helps save the 
picture. — Irene. 




To Clean Mirror* 




A Hint for 
Wall Treatment 




Backs for 
Old Picture Frame* 



To Prevent Wall To prevent wall-paper 

Paper Fading or calcimined walls from 

having a different color 

behind a picture place a tack at both lower 

corners of frame to allow the air to circulate 

through.— Mrs. J. S. V. 

Renewing Gilt Pour a few drops of 
Frames ammonia on a piece of 

bread, preferably of the 
day's baking, but not over a day old, and 
rub the frame carefully with it. If the 
bread is very fresh it will clean them with- 
out the ammonia, but the latter makes the 
effect more lasting. — Mrs. A. McA. 

To Clean Wash- For any one having oil- 
able Wall Paper c,otn covering on walls 
and ceiling and dreading 
the thought of cleaning it, try my plan of 
steaming it by putting a boiler of water 
on the stove and letting it boil for two 
hours or more. The walls will be very 
damp and all dirt will be loosened. Take 
a dry cloth and go over the whole surface 
and it will clean like magic. This method 
will not loosen or injure the paper in the 
least. I discovered this by accident and 
cleaned two rooms in one and a half hours. 

Ecru Curtains Keep your ecru curtains 
and dresses the right 
shade by using a little ochre (powdered) 
mixed with a little water and strained into 
the water in which you rinse or starch the 
articles. Does not streak as coffee does and 
gives a clear ecru tint. — Mrs. D. I. Y. 

Passe-partout First bind everything 
Large Pictures together with wide white 
tape (use library paste 
for this), using it the same as binding, 
then carefully cover with the fancy binding, 
being sure the tape does not show. Care 
must be used with the long strips of bind- 
ing or they will not go on straight. Also 
these pictures, being heavier, must have 
heavier cardboard for backing, through 
which loops of flat, narrow tin can be 
fastened for the hanging cord to be tied 
through. 

A Hint for Wall Being late with house- 
Treatment cleaning I overlooked 
the pantry. The paper 
had become yellow, but was not torn, and 
having had the woodwork painted blue I 
put on a coat of the blue paint on the paper 
and found to my delight that paper can be 
successfully painted. — K. P. 

Protection for While cleaning mop- 
Wall Paper boards the wall adjoining 
may easily be protected 
by using a piece of cardboard held at the 
upper edge of the board. This allows 
the cleaning-cloth to soil the cardboard 
instead of the wall. — Mrs. C. W. P. 








A// About Stoves 



A Prevention of When there is danger 
Fire* from a defective flue, the 

fiercest fire can be ex- 
tinguished in a few minutes by wetting 
newspapers thoroughly and placing on the 
coals, closing all dampers. — Mrs. W. G. 

A Sheet-iron It will pay to get this 
Convenience simple device ready for 
the cool autumnal days. 
After the noontime luncheon we do not 
keep up the wood fire in the kitchen range 
during the afternoon, yet are enabled to 
serve a delicately browned roast at the six 
o'clock dinner. We shake the ashes well 
down in the hard coal stove in the sitting- 
room and then remove the ash-pan and slip 
in a piece of sheet-iron which has been fitted 
to the place occupied by the ash-pan. This 
iron prevents the ashes from falling, and 
all we have to do is to place our roast in 
this improvised oven, adding the potatoes 
about an hour before serving, and we have 
a roast with browned potatoes fit for a king. 
Anything in the way of meats and vegetables 
which require long slow cooking may be 
baked in this oven, and oatmeal is delicious 
cooked in this way in a covered dish with 
plenty of water. — Mary L. D. 

A Home-made I got a fifty-pound 
Fireless Cooker wooden lard bucket from 
my grocer and lined it 
with a number of thicknesses of newspaper, 
breaking the points. I then put in my 
bucket (an enameled one is the best), which 
must have a tight lid. Then I tore up 
pieces of paper and packed in tightly 
between bucket and lining, making a sort 
of nest so as to exclude all air. After 
putting the things to cook I placed several 
newspapers over the top, over which I 
threw a cushion. I have cooked chicken, 
tongue, stews, all sorts of vegetables and 
breakfast foods with perfect success. All 
kinds of cereals, meats, and stews I bring 
to a boil, put immediately into the cooker 
and allow them to remain all night. In 
the morning I repeat the process, season- 
ing and thickening if required. If vege- 
tables are put in after breakfast, at dinner- 
time they are piping hot and ready to 
serve at once. — Mrs. W. K. G. 



A Gas Stove I reduce the amount of 
Plan m y £ a s bill in many little 

ways, as follows : Place 
the dish-pan on one burner of the gas stove, 
one-third full of water ; then put vegetables, 
rice, and meats in small cans or crocks and 
place these in the pan of hot water. In a 
few minutes they will begin to cook, and 
one can attend to one's other duties without 
fear of their burning. When your dinner is 
cooked the dish-water is also ready. — S. 




One Way to Save Cat 




Warming Oven 




A Com Stove Plan 



One Way to One hot day I was going 
Save Ga* to ' ron a "d D0 '' my din- 

ner on a two-burner gas 
plate when I found one burner was clogged. 
The idea struck me to set my stewer on top 
of the two flat-irons and let it boil. So the 
one burner boiled my dinner and kept the 
irons hot. — Mrs. T. B. D. 

Warming Oven From my oil stove oven 
I have made a fine 
warming oven for my cook stove by sus- 
pending it on strong, small ropes run 
through rings in the ceiling directly over 
one side of the stove next to the stovepipe. 
The hot air from the stove enters the bot- 
tom opening in the oven and keeps dishes 
warm as toast, and crackers always crisp. 

To Save Gai I have only recently gone 
to housekeeping, and had 
had no experience, but was anxious to live 
economically. Using gas only for cooking, 
I found the bills unreasonably large. Then 
I bought an oven which fits over one burner 
of the gas range. I paid one dollar for it. 
In this, with a little planning, I cook my 
whole dinner. For instance, I have one 
day cream of celery soup, beef stew in cas- 
serole, baked potatoes, and "Brown Betty" 
or baked custard. Another day I have 
vegetable soup, roast lamb, baked tomatoes, 
escalloped potatoes, and prune whip. It is 
very little trouble, and gas bills are not a 
quarter what they used to be. — M. C. R. 

Gas Stove On top of the metal plate 
below the gas burners on 
a stove place a sheet of newspaper. This 
paper catches the particles which drop 
through while cooking. At the end of each 
day this paper may be removed and a fresh 
one made to take its place. — R. Z. 

Home-made This suggestion is for 
Water System those who live in the 
for the Range country, or in a town 
where there is no water 
system. Take a common vinegar barrel 
and put a faucet near the bottom ; put a 
coil in the stove, and connect the coil and 
barrel by means of water-pipe. The water 
will boil in an hour. We have a forty- 
gallon barrel with a lid for the top, so it 
can be easily filled, and find it very 
convenient. — Mrs. J. R. L. 

To Mend the When my coal range 
Coal Range needed a new back I 
bought a few cents' 
worth of asbestos cement and made a 
plaster of it. Don't put it on too thick or 
the oven will be slow in heating. It dried 
in a few hours and has given perfect satis- 
faction.— H. B. P. 




m. 







\ /Met- Tn , 



Secrets in Cooking 



Secret* With Flour is one of the 
Flour kitchen secrets which I 

employ in many ways. 
A teaspoonful sprinkled over the top of 
apple (juicy ones) or berry pies before 
placing the upper crust on enriches the 
flavor and keeps the juices from running 
out. A teaspoonful (for a pint) mixed 
with the sugar and cocoa or chocolate for 
a drink, gives a wonderful additional rich- 
ness and smoothness and is the secret of 
the delicious chocolate served in European 
cafes. In custards also, in cooked salad 
dressings, Welsh rabbit, and in all recipes 
depending on eggs alone for thickening, a 
little flour adds to the dish. In some 
recipes calling for corn-starch flour can be 
used as a substitute. Added to the sugar 
and cooked together as the basis for sherbet 
and water ices, the flour gives a body and 
delightful smoothness besides bringing out 
the fruit flavors to advantage. No gelatine 
or white of eggs is necessary when flour 
is used in this manner. — Mrs. G. R. L. 

Hard Lemons When a few lemons are 
found to be hard and dry 
do not throw them away, but put them into 
a small vessel and cover them with boiling 
water. Place a cover over the pan and let 
them stand for two hours and they will be 
found to be almost as good as new. — M. D. 



Instead of Grat- 
ing Chocolate 



Break up a cake of 
chocolate and put 
through your meat 
grinder. Keep in a tight can. You will 
find it very convenient when in a hurry and 
it takes only a few minutes. — Mrs. J. B. O. 

A Lemonade If the sugar is dissolved 

Hint m a little hot water 

before putting in it will 

not sink and will sweeten lemonade more 

quickly. — Mrs. E. W. 

A New Fudge My fudge is the envy of 
Secret a " mv friends who want 

to know just "how I do 
it." I cook the fudge until I am sure it is 
done, that is when it balls firmly in cold 
water. Not until then do I add the butter. 
I find three drops of almond oil gives a 
better flavor than vanilla. I set the fudge 
dish in a pan of cold water and then stir 
it hard and fast {not whip or beat it), until 
it almost sets in the pan. Then I hurry it 
into biscuit tins into which I have fitted 
oiled paper, and mark into squares. As a 
rule it can be lifted out of the tins almost 
immediately. If the fudge starts to set too 
fast while in the cold water I take it out at 
once and stir it rapidly until it is ready to put 
into the tins. A couple of minutes stirring 
is all that is necessary, but the fudge is, oh, 
so creamy. — Mrs., A. F. B. 




To Soften Lemons 




Instead of Grating 
Chocolate 




A New Fudge Secret 



When Stewing When preparing apples 
Apples to stew first wash them 

well and wipe dry, then 
cook the peelings first; when soft drain 
through a colander. Cook the apples in this 
liquid and when nearly done add the sugar. 
The flavor is delicious. A half-dozen cloves 
make it still better.— F. I. H. 

A Short Cut in Much work is avoided 
Cooking >f. when flouring chops, 

steak, chicken, or any- 
thing to be rolled in cracker-crumbs or 
meal, one uses a small tough paper sack to 
hold the flour or meal instead of putting 
it on a plate. Drop one or two pieces into 
sack, catch by the top and hold tightly, turn 
upside down quickly once or twice, remove, 
drop into hot fat. Doughnuts may be 
sugared in the same way. — Mrs. H. C. 

A Sour Milk Many cooks hesitate to 
Precaution use sour rnilk and soda 
for biscuits, because of 
the uncertainty of the amount of soda to be 
used to combine perfectly with the acid in 
the milk. I hit upon the idea of putting a 
small amount of cream of tartar in the 
flour. My plan is as follows : Into the 
sifter of flour I put a teaspoonful of soda, 
half a teaspoonful of cream of tartar, and 
then salt. Then I add the flour and lard 
and mix with sour milk, handling as lightly 
as possible. Every one praises the puffy, 
delicious result. The same idea works for 
dumplings, meat-pie crust, and other things 
in which sour milk and soda play a part. 

Salt in Soup Do not put salt into soup 
until you are through 
skimming it, as salt will stop the rising of 
the skum. — A Pearl. 

To Renew Lard If lard is becoming 
slightly rancid the old 
flavor and odor may be removed by heating 
it, dropping in a lump of charcoal and letting 
it stand on the back of the stove for a while. 
I make my own charcoal by taking brands 
from the wood fire and dropping them in 
water. — Waahyuntah. 

A Cocoa Hint Cocoa will not lump if 

a little sugar is mixed 

with it before the hot milk is added. — M. D. 

To Soften Butter How provoking it is 
for Sandwiches when one wishes to 
make sandwiches to find 
the butter too hard to spread, when one 
must soften only a little at a time, or else 
have much of it too soft. Try this way : 
Thoroughly heat a bowl, then turn it over 
the butter. In a few minutes you will find 
the butter soft throughout. — A. I. M. 



Secrets in Cooking 



Mini in Tea In addition to a few 

drops of lemon to a glass 

of iced tea add a sprig of mint. This makes 

a cooling and refreshing drink. — Mrs. E. 

M. P. 

A Valuable Particles of egg yolk can 
Hint be removed from the 

white when accidentally 
dropped in. Touch bits of yellow with a 
dry cloth and they will readily adhere to 
same, while none of the white is absorbed. — 
Miss A. L. S. 

To Make Over I thought I had spoiled 
Jelly a fruit jelly by adding 

too much water and at 
dessert time it had not congealed. I put 
it in a pan and brought to the boiling point, 
then poured into it three tablespoon fuls of 
corn-starch moistened in water and returned 
it to its mold. It was delicious served with 
whipped cream. — Mrs. R. Mel. 

Burnt Sugar A splendid syrup that is 
Syrup almost as good as genu- 

ine maple, may be made 
by putting a cupful of sugar, dry, into a pan 
on the stove. As soon as the sugar begins 
to burn a dark brown pour in about a cup- 
ful of hot water, let it boil until the syrup 
is of the right thickness. This is excellent 
for flavoring cakes, etc., and added to any 
ordinary frosting gives a fine color and 
flavor.— Mrs. H. A. C. 

A Whipped To prevent whipped 
Cream Secret cream from getting 
watery after standing a 
short time, dissolve a little gelatine in two 
teaspoonfuls of water and whip in the 
cream. You can let it stand for hours and 
it will be as firm as at first. — W. W. 

To Whip Cream To whip cream quickly 
Quickly a dd a pinch of baking 

soda. — Mrs. C. W. 

To Prevent Milk When boiling milk for 
from Scorching a pudding or a soup take 
a little butter and grease 
the bottom of the vessel you intend using. 
— R. G. B. 

To Remove When bread, cake, pie, 

Scorch from cookies, etc., are scorched 

Baked Article* in. baking, grate it off 

with an ordinary grater. 

Leaves a smooth surface and does not 

break food as a knife does and there is 

no waste. — Mrs. A. S. K. 

To Remove the Just douse the orange 
White Skin from in cold water or hold it 
Oranges under the faucet and 

scrape with a very sharp 
small knife. It will disappear as if by 
magic— J. T. G. 




A Foreword about Pre- 
serves and Marmalade 




To Make Over Jelly 




To Remove Scorch from 
Baked A t tides 



To Keep Olives When a large bottle of 
olives is opened and only 
part of the contents used, the remainder, 
though left in the brine, becomes compara- 
tively tasteless. If half an inch of olive oil 
is poured on the top, and the bottle well 
corked, the olives will keep their flavor. — 
Mrs. C. B. 

For Baked Try melting a table- 
Dishes spoonful of butter in a 
pan and stir your bread- 
crumbs in it with a fork till well buttered 
for top of puddings, etc. It will brown 
much better. — M. 

A Foreword When you wish to pre- 
About Preserves pare preserves, fruit 
and Marmalade butters, marmalades, 
etc., in fact any confec- 
tion which requires great care to prevent 
burning or sticking when cooked upon 
the top of the stove, the oven, moderately 
heated, is your best friend. Get every- 
thing ready in the usual way and when 
prepared for the final boiling process that 
requires constant watchfulness, place the 
fruit in granite or enameled pans in the 
lower part of the oven, close the door 
and just let them cook, being careful not 
to get the fire too hot. A steady moderate 
heat, such as is used in baking a fruit 
cake is the right thing. Once in an hour 
or so stir the fruit thoroughly, as the up- 
per porton will otherwise become dry and 
may scorch. I make all sorts of preserves 
in this way. They cook slowly, the fruits 
preserve their shape and are delicious. 
Try it for orange marmalade in the spring 
and you will keep on I believe. Peach, 
plum, pear butter, etc., can be cooked in a 
large quantity in any kettle or small granite 
dish-pan — anything that your oven will 
contain. Catsups, etc., can be made in the 
same way. They can be cooked while the 
upper part of the stove is in use. — Mrs. 
A. S. 

To Remove Nut If nuts arc soaked in 
Meats Whole hot water a few hours, 
the meats will come out 
whole. — E. L. Mo. 

Substitute for When it is impossible to 
Whipped Cream ,lave whipped cream a 
delicious substitute can 
be made in the following way. Beat the 
whites of two eggs very stiff, slice evenly 
one banana, add to the eggs and beat un- 
til thoroughly dissolved, sweeten to taste 
with powdered sugar. With some left- 
over slices of cake it makes a good "emer- 
gency dessert." 

Boiled Custard If boiled custard curdles 

pour quickly into a cold 

vessel and beat with the egg-beater and the 

custard will become smooth. — Mrs. W. F. B. 



Secrets in Cooking 



To Sweeten A little soda stirred into 

Cream cream only slightly 

soured will restore its 

sweetness for use in coffee. — Mrs. C. H. M. 

A Beef Tea Hint When making beef tea 
never add the salt un- 
til the meat has cooked some time. Salt 
acts upon the fibre hardening it and 
preventing its giving out all its nourishing 
qualities.— Mrs. W. H. G. 

Testing Cake When buying a new 
broom pull out a couple 
dozen or more of the fine smooth straws 
and put them in a clean bottle and place 
in cupboard to use when testing cake, etc. 
They will always be ready and clean. 

The Secret of To insure light dump- 
Light Dumpling, lings drop them in the 
stew and leave the cover 
off the kettle until they are twice the size 
they were when dropped in, then place the 
cover on and boil for ten minutes. 

To Turn When baking cookies 

Cookies use vour ca ^ e turner f. or 

removing soft cookies 
from the rolling board to baking-pan. They 
are easily placed in the pan with no dan- 
ger of getting them out of shape. — Miss E. 

Custard Hints Before using milk for 
custard heat it thor- 
oughly and cool it, then use in the usual 
way. The custard will not become watery. 
Add a little salt, as it improves the flavor. 
If the custard is to be put in a pie, mix 
one teaspoonful of flour with the dry sugar 
before adding the milk and eggs. This will 
take the place of one egg.— Mrs. W. L. O. 

To Improve Grind with the steak 
Hamburg Steak some pieces of boiled 
beef fat thoroughly 
cooked, make into balls and fry as beef- 
steak in hot spider with some fat. This 
is an experiment of my own and I find it 
far more delicious than the usual method 
of grinding with raw fat of any kind, pork 
or beef, as one does not have to overcook 
the beef in order to cook sufficiently the 
fatted portions, and it is more juicy and 
sweet. — M. E. F. 

When Baking Wash and dry them 
Potatoes a "d ruD them over with 

some kind of grease. 
When baked they will have a rich satiny 
look and the outer skin will peel off as 
thin as tissue-paper, leaving the rich, 
nutritious part under it to be eaten instead 
of wasted as usual. — L. S. R. 




Testing Cake 





For Freezing Ice* 



10 



To Remove Fish To take the odor of fish 
Odor lrom a frying or baking 

pan place a good hand- 
ful of potato peelings in it, pour boiling 
water on and let them boil ten or fifteen 
minutes. This is generally sufficient, but 
if any odor remains put in fresh water 
and peelings and let stand on the stove 
again. — Mrs. J. H. B. 

When Cooking A good way to prevent 
Fish nsn from breaking or 

sticking when removing 
it from the pan is to place three or four 
slices of salt pork in the pan, then after 
the fish has been thoroughly washed, dried, 
and rolled in flour place it on the salt pork. 
Besides preventing the fish from breaking 
it gives it a delicious flavor. — Mrs. H. S. L. 

Easy Way to To prevent sticking, cook 
Cook Macaroni macaroni in a vessel with 
a sieve bottom. Pour 
boiling water over and cook in the usual 
way. When tender lift out the inner ves- 
sel and set on pan or sink-board. You 
will find this does away with sticking, also 
there is no danger of being burned with 
the steam while pouring water off, and 
the kettle and strainer are not hard to 
wash as is apt to be the way with vessels 
in which macaroni is cooked. This does 
not take as long as the double boiler. 

To Freshen Butter which has ac- 
Butter quired a strong taste, as 

it sometimes will if kept 
a long time, may be made to seem fresh 
and be perfectly sweet if it is cut in rather 
small pieces and allowed to stand in sweet 
milk for six or eight hours. Wash off in 
clear, cold water and keep in an earthen 
jar.— F. B. P. 

To Keep Cheese After it is cut, wet a 
from Molding cloth in vinegar, wring 
out and smooth same 
over the cut portion. For a small amount, 
cut the cheese in small pieces and press 
them in a glass jar, screwing the top on 
tight when the jar is full. — L. W. 

For Freezing In snowy winter weather 
Ices scoop up a pailful of 

snow when making ice 
cream, mousse, or parfait. Salt as for 
ice. It costs nothing, does not need to be 
cracked, packs down easier, and be- 
ing semi-frozen melts more quickly than 
ice, and hence does the freezing better and 
quicker. — A. P. 



To Improve 
Brown Gravy 

to brown gravy. 



Freshly cooked rice or 
steamed cold rice makes 
a most palatable addition 



Economy in Household Planning 



Help in Getting I find it a great help to 
Meals have menus made out 

two or three days in 
advance and hung in the kitchen (especially 
where the cooking is entrusted to hired 
help). This gives ample time for dishes 
that need lengthy preparation and to see 
that all needful articles arc on hand. These 
menus may have to be varied somewhat 
to use left-overs, or added to in case of 
unexpected company. They are a help in 
preventing repetition. — Miss L. D. 

A Saving of In making pies or bis- 
Work cuits, instead of using a 
wooden baking-board, I 
take a large sheet of clean white paper (a 
supply of which I keep for the purpose) 
and sift the flour and roll the dough out 
on this. When the work is done, and the 
pies are in the oven, the dishes and uten- 
sils used ran be roughly scraped into this 
paper, which can be rolled up and burned. 

To Save Have a stool that can be 

Strength pushed under the kitchen 

table. Sit down to peel 

potatoes or prepare your dinner. You will 

not feel as worn out when night comes. — 

Mrs. M. E. G. S. 

Work by Women who have never 
Schedule worked by schedule do 
not realize the amount 
of time and energy that is wasted from 
lack of system. In a day that is carefully 
scheduled over twice as much can be ac- 
complished as in a day that is not so or- 
dered. Get an ordinary notebook, and on 
the first page write, "Work for to-mor- 
row, July 6." On the page opposite, "Work 
accomplished." Each book should hold at 
least a month's record. Each night sum 
up your day's work under the heading, 
"Work accomplished," and then make your 
program for the following day. If you 
have not finished all that is planned, carry 
whatever is left undone to the next day. 
You may at first make the mistake of at- 
tempting too much in a day, but you will 
soon learn what can be accomplished with- 
out feeling hurried. 

To Remove Rutt To remove rust from a 

from Knives knife plunge the blade 

into an onion and leave 

it for an hour or so, then polish it in the 

usual way — .Mrs. H. J. F. 

A Cutting By using a warm iron 
Suggestion when cutting out cloth- 
ing you can do away 
with pins and weights on tissue-paper pat- 
terns. Lay the pattern on the material and 
press it lightly with a warm iron, tHe pat- 
tern will cling to the cloth. — S. C. Clarke. 




To Save Strength 




To Remove Rutt 
from Knives 




A Cutting Suggettion 



A Regular Time There are certain odds 

for Odds and and ends where every 
Ends housekeeper will gain 

much by having a regu- 
lar time in which to give them attention. 
Let there be a regular fixed time once a 
month in which the housekeeper attends 
to the following things : 

First. Go around to every room, closet, 
and drawer in the house, see what is out 
of order and what needs to be done, and 
make arrangements as to time and manner 
of doing it. 

Second. Examine the store closets and 
see if there is a proper supply of all arti- 
cles needed there. 

Third. Go through the cellar and sec 
if the salted provisions, vegetables, pickles, 
vinegar, and all the preserves and jellies 
are all right. 

Fourth. Examine the closet of family 
linen and see what needs to be repaired 
and renewed. 

Fifth. See if there is a supply of dish- 
towels, dish-cloths, bag-holders, floor- 
cloths, dust-cloths, wrapping-paper, twine, 
lamp-wicks, and all articles needed in 
kitchen work. 

Sixth. Count over the spoons, knives 
and forks, and examine all the various 
household utensils to see what need replac- 
ing and what should be repaired. 

Seventh. Have in a box a hammer, tacks, 
pincers, gimlets, nails, screws, screw-driv- 
er, small saw, and two sizes of chisels for 
emergencies when no regular workman is 
at hand. Also be prepared to set glass. 
Every woman should be able in an emer- 
gency to do such things herself. System 
in planning one's work is more than half 
of its accomplishment. M. M. 



For Light-house- I have reduced cooking 
keeping on a li,t,e common one- 

burner kerosene stove to 
a fine art. For a light-housekeeping dinner 
for myself I place a deep two-quart pan 
half full of water on the stove. In the 
centre of this is a new tin cup containing 
custard. In the water surrounding the cup 
are peas and potatoes cut in small pieces. 
On this is a perforated pie-plate containing 
anything I wish to warm over, a piece of 
steak or fish on oiled paper, a roll or a 
slice of dry cake, or all three. This is 
covered with an inverted basin fitting snugly 
all around. And last of all, on the top of 
the basin is set my tiny coffee-pot covered 
with a cozy. The vegetables will cook in 
the time required for the custard, the bread 
or meat or cooked vegetable will be 
steamed through, and the water in the little 
coffee-pot will reach the boiling point, — 
ready for the one minute boiling over the 
flame — essential for good coffee. — H. C. W. 



Economies in the Kitchen 



With Limited When the milk supply is 
Milk Supply limited from any cause 
save the water in which 
rice is boiled. When this is allowed to 
stand till it is jellied it makes a very eco- 
nomical substitute for milk, and can be 
used in all the cream soups, and needs not 
the thickening with butter and flour that 
milk must have. — S. M. H. 

Some Uses for Perhaps other young 
Vinegar housewives like myself 

have found trouble in 
making flaky pie crust. I tried many reci- 
pes but could not seem to make good crust. 
A friend of mine told me to add one-half 
teaspoonful of vinegar to the cold water 
used to mix the dough. Since then I have 
had no failures, my crust is always good. 
A teaspoonful of vinegar added to the 
water in which beef is either boiled or 
roasted means more tender nieat. A lit- 
tle vinegar boiled on the stove at the same 
time that cabbage is cooking takes away 
much of the evidence of that vegetable's 
presence. Last but not least add a tea- 
spoonful to the water when cooking string 
beans. They become tender much more 
quickly and the vinegar does not spoil their 
flavor in the least. — Mrs. F. C. C. 

Use for an Old When the flour sifter 

Flour Sifter has become useless as a 

sifter use it for boiling 

eggs. Place sifter with eggs in it in the 

boiling water, when done remove all at 

once.— Mrs. P. W. B. 

Use for When we have hot 

Chafing Dish dishes of escalloped po- 
tatoes or oysters, maca- 
roni, etc., I put them on to the table warm, 
simply setting the pan in which they were 
cooked inside one of the pans of my chaf- 
ing-dish, and using its cover to cover the 
whole thing up. This keeps the food warm 
and we enjoy it served in this way. — H. 

How to Utilize If there is any pancake 

Left-Over batter left over from 

Pancake Batter breakfast put it in a cool 

place until the next 

morning so it will not sour. Take slices 

of bread and dip in the batter and fry. 

This is as good or better than "French 

Toast."— C. R. 

To Keep Ice After the cream is 
Cream frozen, instead of using 

more ice for packing, 
tear newspapers into medium-sized pieces 
and stuff firmly into the freezer. It can 
be wedged closely together, keeping out 
every bit of air. In this way ice cream 
will keep for several hours. 




A New Use for 
Old Tinware 




Use for an Old 
Flour Sifter 




Use for Chafing Dish 



Left-Over Many of us have some 
Breads left-overs in the bread 

line which we would 
like to send back to the table in as attrac- 
tive and disguised manner as possible. I 
keep a ten-pound bucket with lid into which 
I put all left-over biscuit and light bread. 
When I want toast (either dry or milk) 
I have it ready sliced. We are fond of 
biscuit a day or so old, cut and buttered 
plentifully and toasted to serve with jam, 
honey, or baked apples for breakfast. Af- 
ter breads are left longer than two days 
I carry them through the food-chopper 
(after drying thoroughly in the oven) and 
put away in glass jars for use in bread- 
ing chops, rolling croquettes, etc. I make 
a cheese dish with milk, egg, cheese and 
from a half to one-third the quantity of 
bread-crumbs. We are fond of the flour 
muffins for breakfast and to save the ex- 
pense of so much flour, also to make the 
muffins light, I use half as much crumbs 
as flour. — Mrs. M. E. W. 

Rice Water for Boil a cupful of rice for 

Bread twenty minutes in plenty 

of water. Drain off the 

water with which to set the bread sponge 

and steam the rice for half an hour and 

use for dinner. — Mrs. R. J. 

Soap Pieces An excellent way to 
save soap is to have 
ready an old tin can with holes punched 
in its top, into which put all little odds and 
ends of soap. This can may be put in the 
dish water, and by shaking it in the warm 
water one will soon have suds. 

A New Use for I had a small tin-boiler 
Old Tinware *°r hams which soon 
showed a number ot 
small leaks and was unfitted for its origi- 
nal purpose. After I enameled it with 
white its tendency to rust was overcome, 
and it is very useful to keep my bread in. 
I also had a tin oven belonging to a one- 
burner oil-stove. This was discarded for 
years, but I rescued it from the loft, and, 
after enameling it inside and out, it makes 
a splendid closet for my pies, which I bake 
four at a time. 

Drippings from The waste of the smok- 
Ham and Bacon ed drippings was a great 
worry to me until I 
found out a way to clarify them. To each 
quart of melted fat allow a small raw 
potato. Slice this and cook in the fat 
for twenty minutes. The drippings can 
then be used to fry doughnuts, as shorten- 
ing for molasses cookies, etc., without the 
least taste of smoke. I treat the fat from 
chicken and turkey in the same way, and 
strain through a cheese-cloth after clarifying. 



Frills with Meat and Eggs 



Left-Over Take cold roast or fried 
Meat ' lam (*ny kind will be 

good), run through the 
chopper and season a little if necessary. 
Make a rich biscuit dough, rolf on the 
board and spread the meat over it. Roll 
up to make a good shape. Now make a white 
or brown sauce, or, if you prefer a tomato 
sauce, and after you have baked the meat 
roll, pour over it one of these sauces and 
serve. For the sauce use a tablespoonful 
of drippings and one of flour, add a half 
pint of milk, or tomato liquid (if you wish 
the tomato sauce), season and serve. This 
is the most successful way I know to utilize 
a left-over of meat. One precaution: Bake 
your roll slowly as it cooks outside quickly 
and may not be done in the middle. 

A Cooking Kink As our family do not 
care for chicken unless 
fried, I have evolved a way in which a 
young chicken, weighing four or five 
pounds, may be successfully "fried." After 
the chicken is jointed dip in a batter of 
flour and water of the consistency of thick 
cream to which a little more than a half 
teaspoonful of soda has been added (it will 
require about four rounding tablespoonfuls 
of flour for the batter), then roll in tine 
cracker or bread crumbs (the latter pre- 
ferred). Have ready a good-sized baking- 
pan, in which place the chicken in plenty 
of hot fat, season and cook in a slow 
oven at least one hour, longer if the 
chicken is large. When done each piece 
should be coated with a delicious crisp 
brown crust, adding to its size. Few cooks 
know that the rib, if broken next to the 
back, may be easily removed with the 
lingers, thus making a fairly good piece of 
chicken. The fat not used in the gravy is 
superior to butter for seasoning vegetables. 
Cook pork chops in this way. 

A Convenience After preparing a tur- 
in Cooking key or goose for the 
oven take two strips of 
clean white cloth about two inches wide, 
pass one under the shoulders and the 
other under the thighs and tie each in a 
knot on top of the breast as the bird lays 
on its back. Leave short ends which will 
serve as handles when taking up the bird 
and will also prove much help when turn- 
ing it during the cooking. — Mrs. B. 



To Fry When eggs are expen- 

Croquettes *>ve, I find if I dip cro- 
quettes, veal cutlets, etc., 
in rich milk or cream, then roll them in 
bread-crumbs or cracker dust they will fry 
a delicious brown and will taste the same 
zs if dipped in egg.— A Subscriber. 




To Lift Poached Egg* 




A Convenience 
in Cooking 




When Eggt are Poaching 
or Frying 



To Fry Liver Parboil in sweet milk, 
roll in bread-crumbs and 
fry in butter or bacon fat. The parboil- 
ing greatly improves the flavor of the liver. 

To Lift Poached For lifting poached eggs 
Egg* out °f water, tli 

nothing so good as a 
milk-skimmer. — Mrs. G. E. W. 

Baked Hash In making hash moisten 
with milk instead of 
water and bake without stirring. This im- 
proves it very much. — E. D. 

To Fry Oysters Rub or wipe large oys- 
ters dry, salt and pep- 
per them, then beat the yolks of two eggs 
well and add cracker-crumbs, a little sweet 
milk or liquor from oysters may be used, 
a little flour added to make a thick paste. 
Roll oysters in this paste and then in dry 
cracker-crumbs. Fry in hot grease. This 
recipe will enable one to have fried oysters 
as large as those bought from a caterer. 

Cooking Ham I have discovered a 
nice way of frying ham. 
Put it in a tin pan and place in the oven. 
Close the doors. It need not be turned as 
it browns nicely on both sides. This 
method leaves the meat tender, and pre- 
vents the offensive odor from penetrating 
rooms. 

A Roast Meat How many know that if 
Help y° u DO 'l a pork roast 

until partly done and then 
put in the oven to brown and finish cook- 
ing it will not shrink away as it would if 
it had been cooked entirely in the oven, 
and will also be more tender. Chickens 
may also be roasted or broiled with suc- 
cess after partially boiling. — Mrs. J. M. 

When Eggs are Cover the pan with a lid 

Poaching or just the last moment of 

Frying their cooking. This will 

give the pretty pink 

glazed-over look so desirable. — Housewife. 

To Keep Cut In providing for a small 
Ham family, as a rule, one 

wishes to have fried ham 
often, and the cut ham soon deteriorates 
in flavor. To keep it as good as when 
first cut, slice as much as desired and pack 
down in a stone jar. Melt some pure leaf 
lard and pour over the slices, covering 
deep enough to exclude all air. Tata 
and fry as needed and the last cut will be 
found as delicious as the first. — Miss F. 



Tricks with Cakes and Frostings 



Make White Cake-mixing is made 

Cake with easier if, when you have 

f. plenty of cream, all 

eam cream is used instead of 

butter and milk. When the recipe would 

call for one cup of milk and one-half cup 

of butter, use one and one-half cups of 

cream. This takes less time to mix with 

the sugar, when butter and sugar do not 

have to be creamed, and is just as cheap 

when butter is expensive. This hint was 

given me by one of the best known cooks 

in the country. — M. E. 

Layer Cake When putting a layer 
Suggestion cake together with icing, 
and the layers seem de- 
termined to slide off one side, insert one 
or two toothpicks around the outer edge 
and leave until the icing is thoroughly set, 
when they may be easily removed, if de- 
sired. — Mrs. M. L. M. 

A Good Cake My experience in mak- 
Method m £f cakes is to beat the 

cake thoroughly before 
putting in the baking-powder. The more 
most cakes are beaten the nicer and lighter 
they will be, but it should be done just 
before putting in the baking-powder. Sift 
the baking-powder in with a little flour, 
then put in your stiffly beaten whites of the 
eggs, folding them in, but do not beat 
again. — W. L. P. 

To Bake Fruit To prevent loaf cakes 
Cake from burning at the 

sides and bottom place 
the pan containing the cake in a larger 
pan of hot water, and when the cake is 
beginning to brown remove from the water 
to allow the bottom to brown. This is an 
excellent way to bake fruit cake, as it is 
sure to scorch if one is not very careful. 
—Mrs. L. W. D. 

When Making If you have no pastry 
Angel Cake fl our, equally good re- 
sults can be obtained in 
making angel food cake by using one part 
of corn-starch to seven parts of ordinary 
flour.— Mrs. C. P. B. 

Fruit Cake If fruit cake is to be 
kept for any length of 
time, wrap it nicely in a cloth, and sew 
around the edges. Melt paraffin in a pan 
and dip the cloth-covered cake in, until 
it is well coated. — A. L. R. 

To Moisten Dessicated cocoanut can 
Shredded hardly be told from 

Cocoanut f rerii opoomut if it is 

soaked in milk for three- 
quarters of an hour and then squeezed dry. 
—Mrs. R. G. 




Layer Cake Suggestion 




To Bake Fruit Cake 




A Sanitary Cake Tester 



To Mix Butter When stirring sugar and 

and Sugar butter together for cake 

use a wooden masher 

and see how much quicker and easier it is 

done. When the butter is hard set dish on 

the stove in a warm (not hot) place. — H. 

For Layer To make icing stick to 
Cakes ca ke layers, allow cakes 

to cool thoroughly, then 
rub flour well on the layers before apply- 
ing the icing. In order to keep whipped 
cream stiff add one teaspoonful of gela- 
tine, dissolved in a little water, to the 
cream before whipping. — Chappelear. 

In Making Instead of boiling choco- 
Chocolate Cake late icin S for cake I buy 
the chocolate drops, put 
in an enameled pie-pan (not tin) on the 
back of the stove until melted, then beat 
in two tablespoonfuls of cream. Beat un- 
til smooth, then ice the cake with the 
mixture. It is superior to boiled icing. — 
— Mrs. Hugh S. 

To Make This never fails; partly 

Boiled Icing beat the white of the egg, 
then put in about two or 
three tablespoonfuls of the sugar syrup 
which is half boiled and beat vigorously 
with the egg-beater. When the remainder 
of the syrup will "ball" in cold water it is 
ready to pour on the egg. Continue to beat 
until cold. Icing made in this way will 
be firm on the outside, like cream under- 
neath, and you will never have a failure. 
— E. M. W. 

Uses for Cream Put a pinch of cream of 

of Tartar tartar in your frosting 

or fudge to prevent it 

from "going to sugar." It will make it nice 

and creamy. — F. E. N. 

To Save Boiled When making a boiled 
Frosting frosting I left it a little 

too long on the stove 
and it became rough and crumbly. I added 
a piece of butter the size of a walnut and 
beat it and it became smooth and creamy, 
and a delicious rich flavor. — M. A. C. 

Fruit Cake Help When making fruit cake 
and you wish the citron 
cut in thin slices, put it in the oven and 
heat through. You can then cut it as thin 
as you wish and it does not stick to the 
knife. — Mrs. J. G. 

A Sanitary I find a toothpick a very 

Cake Tester bandy cake - tester. I 

keep a box on hand in 

the kitchen and when making have several 

on the baking-table so that they can be 

picked up quickly. — Mrs. E. B. T. 



Helps at Preserving Time 



A Hint for Having some old-style 
Preserving Time preserving jars for which 
rings can no longer be 
bought and needing to use them I took a 
discarded rubber hot-water bottle and cut 
rings from it. I found my jars were 
securely sealed. — B. E. G. 

For Preserving Make a note of this for 
Time preserving time : The 

peach season was not 
work for me last year. 1 no longer sit by 
the hour peeling peaches, with a tired back 
and stained hands as a consequence. 
Instead I place peaches to be skinned in a 
wire basket and slip the basket into a kettle 
of boiling water for a second or two. The 
peach skin will then slip off easily. The 
peach in this way retains a perfect shape and 
its beautiful color. — Mrs. P. H. 

Sealing Grape Take narrow strips of 
Juice paper, wind around the 

neck of the bottle, letting 
them extend half an inch or so above the 
cork, paste or tie in position. Then fill this 
with melted wax or paraffin. When the 
bottles are opened the wax can be taken 
from the cork in one piece, and may be 
melted and used again. — Mrs. J. J. O'C. 

Speaking of The juice of pineapple 

Cherries w '" remove cherry stains 

from the hands as if by 

magic. A little nutmeg or cinnamon 

sprinkled over the cherry filling for a pie 

will bring out the flavor wonderfully. — M. D. 

Washing Small A corn-popper without the 

Fruits handle is very useful in 

washing berries and small 

fruits, as the cover can be fastened and the 

whole shaken in a pail of water. — Mrs. L. 

To Fill Jelly Stand the glasses in 
Glasses granite muffin-pans near 

the kettle containing 
fruit. Each glass rests in a separate en- 
closure, so that if any fruit is spilled it is 
caught and does not smear the others. Also 
they are easily lifted and set aside to cool 
in these receptacles without disturbing. — 
Mrs. C. R. T. 

Economy with Don't throw away sweet 

Vinegar pickle vinegar but use it 

in mince meat. — E. F. B. 

Making Can Instead of buying labels 
Labels f° r fruit cans, purchase 

a sheet of gummed 
paper, this can be cut into the desired size. 
A large sheet of the paper may be bought 
at any stationer's for ten cents and cut and 
marked as required. — Mrs. M. W. U! 




A Useful Kitchen Table 




For Preterving Time 




Washing Small Fruits 



A Useful A most useful article of 
Kitchen Table kitchen furniture is a 
small movable zinc- 
covered table. It should be about twenty- 
eight inches high and the top two feet square. 
The top should be covered with zinc, and 
three sides have a heading of an inch board 
around to keep articles from slipping. The 
table should be mounted on ball-bearing 
casters. When canning fruit or making 
griddle-cakes, etc., it can be rolled close to 
the range. One can set saucepans or frying- 
pans on it, as the zinc Is easily cleaned. An 
under shelf, if required, may be added and 
placed about ten inches from the casters. 
This handy table is also serviceable when 
rolled near the sink, to set the dry dishes on, 
then wheeled into the pantry, thereby saving 
many steps. — Mrs. J. M. 

To Prevent Put a silver spoon in 

Glasses from when any hot liquid is to 

Cracking be poured into the glass, 

pouring directly on to the 

bowl of the spoon. The heat will never 

crack the glass in this way. — C. S. 

A Jelly Hint If jelly does not harden 
when it gets cold, instead 
of putting it back in the kettle to cook 
longer, place the glasses in a dripping-pan 
half full of cold water and set in the oven. 
Cook that way until you think it is done. 
This saves both jelly and time. — Mrs. W. 

Preparing Cans Before putting the fruit 
into the jars, I put into 
a pan of cold water to which has been added 
a teaspoonful of pulverized borax. I let 
these jars stay in the water on the stove 
until the water becomes quite warm, then 
take them out and put in my fruit. I have 
found this to be of great help and have 
never lost any fruit since I tried using the 
borax. — A. B. 

A Use for Dis- When making jelly and 

carded Rubbers one nnd s they have not 

enough lids for jelly 

glasses, try covering the glass with paraffin 

paper and slip a discarded fruit jar rubber 

over it. 

A New Jelly Last summer I was 
obliged to make most of 
my jelly out of apples and thus was led to 
experiment on different flavoring in order 
to avoid monotony. The most satisfactory 
results were obtained by simply drawing 
several leaves of rose-scented geranium 
through the hot jelly just before it was 
put into the tumblers. The resulting flavor 
was something like quince, although most 
people who tasted it declared it far better 
than quince jelly. — A. C. H. 



Ways with Vegetables 



A Potato Hint Before baking sweet po- 
tatoes rub a little lard on 
them and when baked they will peel easily 
and perfectly. — Mrs. J. M. W. 

Potato Salad In making potato salad 
if you will add a cup of 
chopped cabbage and a little onion it will 
correct the cold potato taste so unpleasant 
to many people. It is also an advantage 
to the salad in flavor and appearance. 

To Help When Put into the pot a piece 

Potatoes are °f ,'' me as large as a 

Watery hen's egg, and howsoever 

" watery the potatoes may 

have been they will be found dry and mealy 

when the water is poured off. — H. S. 

For Mashed If the busy housewife 
Potatoes w '" add one or more 

teaspoonfuls of baking- 
powder, according to the amount of potatoes 
to be mashed, when mashing them, she will 
be rewarded by white and flaky potatoes 
with little labor.— B. H. W. 

Potatoes in a A quick and economical 
Hurry wa y to make mashed 

potatoes. Instead of 
leaving the potatoes whole or cut in half, 
slice them thin as for French fried potatoes 
and boil. It does not affect the quality, and 
the saving in gas and time is considerable. 
—Mrs. N. H. 

Washing I find by washing vege- 

Vegetables tables in salt water all 
bugs, worms, or insects 
of any kind come to the top. It is especially 
well to do this in washing greens, lettuce, 
celery, cabbage, etc., as they so often have 
insects or worms almost the same color, 
which are hard to see. — Mrs. H. G. H. 

To Freshen Pour off old liquid, wash, 
Canned Peas add new water, butter, 
and bit of sugar, add 
milk if desired^ — Mrs. L. F. 

Good Potato Try adding two table- 
Soup spoonfuls of tomato 
catsup or a little highly 
seasoned chicken gravy, if you have any left 
over. You will find it takes on a piquancy 
undreamed of in potato soup. — M. S. H. 

A Good Use for When cooking a boiled 
Mosquito Netting dinner try tying your 
greens or cabbage in a 
square of mosquito netting and put in your 
kettle. When ready to take it out raise with 
a fork and hang on the faucet to drain while 
the rest of the dinner is dished. You can also 
find many other uses for these squares, such 
as draining cottage cheese, squash, pumpkin, 
and the like. — M. H. 




Salad Cups 




Potatoes in a Hurry 




A Good Use for 
Mosquito Netting 



To Make In making tomato soup 

Tomato Soup w ' tn milk, always put the 

soda in the milk before 

putting the tomatoes and milk together, and 

your soup will never curdle. — Mrs. A. G. 

A Kitchen There are many good 
Economy thrifty cooks who have 
not learned that green 
peppers have an economic value equal to 
that which puts them at the head of savory 
dishes. Green peppers may be stuffed with 
anything left in the refrigerator except 
sweets. When I have peppers to stuff I 
boil rice as a foundation. I use this rice, 
chopped meat, tomatoes, onions, the last of 
the olives, chopped off the pit, bits of bacon, 
cold potatoes, or the cold corn left from 
some previous meal. I season the cut-off 
tops of the peppers and the next day chop 
them up fine, mix with rice and a tomato or 
two, using just enough juice to moisten and 
bake in a slow oven. My family like the 
baked "pepper pudding" as well as the dish 
the first day.— F. L. G. 

Salad Cups While tomatoes are still 
too expensive for many 
purses try the following and see how 
delighted you will be. Dissolve one-fourth 
box of gelatine in hot water, cool, strain 
in the juice of a can of tomatoes, seasoning 
with pepper and salt to taste. Pour into 
teacups to mold, about a fourth full or size 
of half a tomato. When firm turn out on 
a lettuce leaf and serve with mayonnaise 
dressing. — Mrs. H. C. A. 

To Keep Prepare the lettuce for 

Lettuce Fresh use - Shake all the water 

from the leaves and place 

in a tin pail with a very tight cover. Then 

set in a cool place and the lettuce will be 

crisp and fresh the next day. — A. W. 

Uses for Canned vegetable soup, 

Canned Soups chilled thoroughly and 

arranged on lettuce 

leaves, with dressing, makes a surprisingly 

good salad. 

Chicken soup run through the fine knife 
of the meat-chopper makes good sandwiches. 
Good vegetable hash can be made by adding 
vegetables, which have been cut into cubes 
and parboiled, to any meat soup. Consomme, 
thickened and seasoned, is an excellent gravy 
to serve with cold meats. Canned tomato 
soup may also be used wherever canned 
tomatoes are called for in a recipe. It has 
an added flavor, and saves the labor of put- 
ting the tomato through a puree sieve. 

A very little meat "left over," chopped and 
added to a gravy made of thickened soup, 
may be poured over slices of toast, and 
makes a cheap and satisfying supper dish. 
—Mrs. R. H. S. 



16 



Suggestions for Pie Making 



A Help in Pie When making frosting 
Making for a P' e tr y, after 

separating your eggs, 
adding one scant level tablespoon ful of 
granulated sugar to each white and let it 
melt until you are ready to whip them. You 
will have a lighter frosting and one that will 
not fall or stick to the knife when cutting 
the pie— Mrs. C. W. B. 

Luncheon Pie» For the children's lunch 
1 often make little pies 
by lining the patty-pans with pastry dough 
and filling with any kind of pie material. 
Cut the dough in a five or six inch circle 
and take out three little V-shaped pieces at 
intervals to make the crust fit without being 
too thick. Carefully press into the patty- 
pans. If berries are used a top crust must 
be put on. Little meat pies are particularly 
nice in this way, and the children are de- 
lighted with them. — Mrs. B. M. 

When Making When making lemon pies, 
Lemon Pies instead of using corn- 
starch or flour, grate one 
potato to each pie and the pie will be 
delicious. The potato tastes much like 
cocoanut, and the custard is thickened just 
enough. — M. E. A. 

To Cool Pa»try Pastry should be cooled 
in a warm room. Tak- 
ing it suddenly from the oven to a cool 
larder will make it heavy. — Mrs. W. H. G. 

Lemons for Pie I find it a great help when 
grated lemons are needed 
for pie, instead of grating to cut in pieces 
and remove the seeds, then put through a 
food-chopper, using the fine knife blade. — • 
L. S. F. 

A Secret for When making puff paste 

Puff Parte or anv pic-crust in hot 

weather fill a bottle with 

ice water and use for a rolling-pin. The 

pastry will be delicate and flaky. — M. 

Andrews. 

Digestible Our family are very fond 
Pie-cruit °f P' e ' an ^ as some of 

the members are troubled 
with indigestion it became necessary to use 
for a pie-crust something more easily 
digested than the usual lard or butter crust. 
I tried a cupful of sour cream with the same 
amount of flour, a pinch of salt, and two- 
thirds of a level teaspoonful of salaratus, 
mixed very stiff with a spoon and rolled 
thin with plenty of flour on the board. The 
crust proved to be delicious, tender, and 
perfectly digestible, and has ever since been 
used with perfect satisfaction. In our local 
markets the cream costs little more, used for 
this purpose, than good lard. — L. W. M. 




Luncheon Piea 




To Have Good Pie Crutt 




A Secret About When making pies from 
Cherry Pie canned cherries, more 
especially if they have 
been canned some time and lost their 
original flavor, try the following: Just 
before putting on the upper crust, dip a few 
spoonfuls of canned plums, minus the 
stones, over them. The result will be 
surprising, as the pie will taste as if made 
from freshly picked cherries — and what is 
more delicious than a fresh cherry pie? — 
Mrs. L. F. B. 

A New Use for A saltspoonful of bak- 
Baking Powder ing-powder put in the 
meringue for pies just 
before the meringue is placed on the pie will 
keep it from falling as soon as the pie is 
removed from the hot oven, as so often 
happens. — Mrs. C. E. W. 



Economical 
Pastry Tricks 



To Cook Pies 



Delicious afternoon tea 
wafers can be made 
from left-over pie-crust. 
Roll pastry thin, sprinkle generously with 
cinnamon and sugar, cut into diamond 
shapes, and bake on flat tins in a quick oven. 
For salad rolls, grate cheese over the pastry, 
cut into squares, and roll each square up 
tight and bake.— G. R. B. 

To Have Good Never set a pie on a flat 

Pie-crust surface when removing 

from the oven. Use a 

flat-iron stand or wire teapot-stand. This 

prevents steamed and soaked and soggy 

under pie-crust. — F. O. H. 

To Cook Every one knows what 
Pumpkin a task it is to prepare a 

pumpkin for pies. Try 
my way once and I fancy you will never 
peel another. Cut the pumpkin into halves, 
place into pans, then in the oven. Do not 
have the oven very hot. Leave the pumpkins 
in until they are soft. Remove and pour the 
juice out, then scoop the meat out with a 
spoon. It is then ready to stew. You will 
find that by pourng the juice out that was 
brought out by the heat of the oven, that 
it will take but a short time for the pumpkin 
to stew until it is dry and ready for use. 
— G. C. A. 

A Pie Hint Heat your plates before 

putting hot pies on them 

when first taken from the oven. The hot 

pies on cold plates cause a sweat that makes 

soggy under-crust. — E. K. R, 

To Cook Pies If your pies overflow in 

the oven insert a short 

piece of uncooked macaroni in the top 

crust. This is much better than the so 

much used paper funnel. — B. J. O. 



Helps with Kitchen Utensils 



New U*e» for the Did any one ever try 
Corn Popper " sin g ° ne ° f the large- 
size corn-poppers to broil 
with, either in the kitchen or when camp- 
ing? One can broil quail, wild duck, small 
fish, sausage, potatoes, sliced tomatoes, and 
roasting ears in them very quickly, and can 
also crisp crackers and breakfast cereals in 
them in a few minutes. Fresh berries, 
dried fruits, rice, tapioca, beans, and even 
new potatoes can be washed in them by 
holding the popper under the faucet or 
pump. — Mrs. A. M. W. 

Coffee Cant as Have you ever tried 
Steamer* making your steamed 

puddings in one-pound 
empty coffee cans ? They answer the purpose 
just as weir as those "bought at a price," 
and with the advantage that they take up 
very little room. Three or four of them 
can be steamed at once in a good-sized 
pan. To save fire it is a good idea to make 
three or four different kinds of puddings 
in as many separate tins and steam them 
all at once. Then each requires only heat- 
ing through before using. Large baking- 
powder tins are also good for this pur- 
pose. Grease cans well before putting in 
the puddings. — B. G. T. 

Card Index Every housekeeper col- 
for Recipe* lects, from time to time, 
recipes from widely dif- 
ferent sources. The usual plan is to write 
these in a book for future use. If one 
goes a step further and carefully indexes 
the recipes she will find the book much 
more serviceable. Some housewives prefer 
to keep the recipes written on cards of 
uniform size. These are kept in a con- 
venient box or drawer in the kitchen, with 
a simply devised card index to insure their 
being in order. This is an excellent idea. 
— E. R. G. 

A Winter A winter refrigerator 
Refrigerator consists of a wooden box 
of three sides, the length 
of a window, preferably north. It is high 
enough to accommodate a quart milk bot- 
tle. The box, of course, is outside of the 
window and is supported by brackets. The 
open side is next to the window and the 
window serves as a sliding door for the 
box. When the window is lowered the "re- 
frigerator" is closed. The inside is lined 
with zinc, which has been given two coats 
of enamel. This renders it water-proof. 
It contains a shelf of zinc extending part 
way across. The high space is designed 
for milk-bottles, butter-jars, and tall re- 
ceptacles. In the summer time the refrig- 
erator is removed and a window-box with 
flowers is fastened to the brackets. — 
C. F. C. 




New Uses for the 
Corn Popper 




A Cooky Cutter 




Pliera in the Kitchen 



A Neat Cover To save the cloth cover 
for of my kitchen recipe- 

Recipe Books book from grease and 
flour, I covered it with 
white' table oilcloth, while for my clippings 
and odd recipes and hints, I use a heavy 
covered blank-book treated in the same way 
with the white oilcloth. These make the 
neatest looking books imaginable and may 
be washed when necessary. — Miss V. F. C. 

A Cooky I always have had a hard 
Cutter t' me securing a sharp 

cooky - cutter, until I 
made a discovery which I have used ever 
since. I now use an old baking-powder 
can which, like most of them, has a very 
sharp edge. The advantage is twofold, for 
it is both sharp and high. — A. B. 

Pliers in the A pair of ordinary 

Kitchen "pliers," used in the 

kitchen for lifting hot 

pans, have a firm grip, and save many a 

burn. — "C. G." 

A Lard-pail Tea- A lard-pail may be con- 
kettle Steamer v erted into a tea-kettle 
steamer simply by punch- 
ing the bottom of it full of holes. Two 
or three holes should also be punched in 
the cover as outlets for the steam. A 
smaller sized pail or coffee can furnishes 
a suitable receptacle inside, in which to 
steam puddings, small loaves of brown 
bread or any desired article of food. 
Dried pieces of bread or cake can be 
warmed over in this, but a saucer should 
first be placed in the bottom to prevent any 
crumbs from falling into the water. — 
Mrs. S. J. H. 

Baking Powder To open a baking- 
powder can remove the 
label about an inch around the top, then 
lay the can on the floor and roll back and 
forth several times with the foot, gently 
yet with enough pressure to bend the tin 
slightly. The cover will then easily come 
off, as the movement loosens the lid all 
around. — E. S. 

Convenient Have castors put on 

Wood-box your wood-box and see 

how easy it is to move 

when sweeping or cleaning floors. — 

E. B. M. 

A Place for Tack a small piece of 
Sharp Knive* leather about an inch 
and a half long on the 
woodwork in the pantry and run the carv- 
ing-knife through, handle upwards. The 
knife is thus out of harm's way and easy 
of access. — S. V. E. 



Helps in the Laundry 



To Wash Take lukewarm water, 
White Silk make it quite blue, and 
to each quart add two 
teaspoonfuls of pure ammonia. Use a good 
white soap, rinse in water prepared the 
same way, roll up, iron on the wrong side 
with an iron not too hot. White silk waists 
look like new, and do not get yellow in 
the process. — Mrs. A. B. 

To Wash Xow that chamois gloves 

Chamois Gloves are so P°P«lar, we all 
want to know the best 
way to clean them. I have tried this plan 
and find it good. Dip gloves in lukewarm 
soap-suds of some pure soap. Gently pat 
between the hands until clean. Rinse in two 
or three clear waters, but do not wring 
them. Instead, roll them in a dry towel 
and squeeze or press the water out. Hang 
in the sun for a few moments, then put 
them on the hands and gently rub them 
dry. This way does not stretch the gloves, 
and leaves them as soft as new. — Ernesta. 



To Wash Fine 
Laces 



Make a warm suds of 
pure soap, into 



any 

which put a little borax. 
Allow the laces to soak in this a few min- 
utes, then shake about and wash with the 
hands, rinsing in two waters. To the last 
rinsing water add a little white sugar 
(starch should never be used). Pull out 
well in shape, place between clean white 
cloths and lay between the leaves of an 
old book, or where the pressure will be 
smooth and constant until dry. — Mrs. M. 
M. M. 

To Wash Dissolve four kitchen 

Woolen Blankets tablespoonfuls of good 
soap powder in a dip- 
perful of boiling water and pour it into a 
tub of warm water. Open the blanket out 
wide and put it in the tub and let it soak 
for fifteen minutes or half an hour. Then 
rub it all over between the hands, and if 
there are any stains left rub them with 
soap. Rinse in a clear water of the same 
temperature as the wash water. If you do 
this your blankets will be soft, white, and 
will not shrink. Don't rub blankets on a 
wash-board, as it makes them hard, and 
bluing makes them gray. — M. M. 

Easy Way to An easy way to dry 
Dry Madras Madras curtains is by 
stretching each half its 
full width on its rod, placing it in its fix- 
ture and then running another heavy brass 
rod in the hem at the bottom. The cur- 
tains will not shrink, and will look like 
new. It is desirable to wrap a piece of 
old white material around the rods to pre- 
vent any spots from the rods soiling the 
curtains. — J. S. B. 





To Wash Fine Lace* 




Easy Way to Dry Madras 
Curtain* 



19 



To Fill Separate My husband cut a piece 
Tubs onf our garden hose to 

fill the wash-tubs. It is 
about ten feet long. I attach it to the fau- 
cet and the children hold the other end 
until tubs are sufficiently full. For ten 
cents he bought a coupling by means of 
which the piece can be attached to the hose 
again. — "A Subscriber." 

To Wash a Take a fine small brush 
White Parasol and scour tne parasol 
thoroughly, inside and 
out, with hot suds (while open) ; then 
rinse well with bluing water and tie stout 
string to the end of handle and tie on the 
clothes-line, leaving the parasol open to 
dry. It will need no pressing, and if 
dried in the sun will look like new. — Mrs. 
C. S. 

To Wash Make a lather of soap 
Velveteen or washing-powder and 
warm water, put velvet 
in, but do not rub, but squeeze with the 
hands. Rinse well with plenty of clear 
water. Lift the velvet out, do not wring 
at all, but hang out to drip until dry. This 
makes it look like new. — Mrs. J. W. C. 

To Keep Tubs Take several layers of 

from Falling newspapers and spread 

Apart in '"' t,om °* tuo and let 

extend up sides of tub. 

Pour in one or two gallons of water. The 

paper holds the water for days and keeps 

the tub moist. — Mrs. M. M. S. 

Emptying the The woman who has 
Tubs not the convenience of a 

modern laundry may be 
saved carrying out water by having tub 
or washer equipped with an ordinary shut- 
off valve (which may be inserted in place 
of plug if washer is used), attaching gar- 
den hose and drawing the water out into 
yard or garden. — E. F. M. 

To Remove the Wash the sacks in warm 
Wording from SU(ls . thcn wring and 
Flour Sack. ' proa , d U P°" the wash- 
board with the name of 
the brand uppermost. Rub on a thick layer 
of soap or washing-powder and roll tightly. 
Place in a pan of cold water and set on the 
stove to boil. Do not stir, but when the 
boiling-point is reached, remove from the 
stove and wash in a clean suds. The stains 
will disappear like magic. — L. L. P. 

When I have found when 

Laundering laundering wash dresses 

Wash Dresses ° f any kind, that it is 

much better to hang 

them on the line on a wooden coat-hanger. 

This keeps them in shape, and they iron 

better. 



Helps in Starching and Laundering 
Colored Garments 



To Wash A good way to shrink 
Flannels flannels and preserve 

their appearance is to 
soak any flannel material in cold water 
before making up. Spring water or hard 
well water is best. Fill a tub and place the 
flannel in it. As soon as the flannel sinks 
to the bottom take out and hang up to 
drain and dry. Do not squeeze or handle 
it in the tub. Treated in this way it does 
not lose the appearance of new flannel and 
will not shrink when properly washed. — 
Mrs. C. H. N. 

Uses for If a little starch is added 

Starch to tne rinsing water of 

all cotton goods, they 
will wash much more easily. The dirt 
comes out with the starch, and they will 
iron almost as readily as unstarched goods, 
if ironed before being allowed to become 
thoroughly dry. Painted ceilings wash 
easier if gone over first with starch water. 
Brown cotton fabrics may be dipped in 
water containing a very slight amount of 
liquid glue, instead of white starch, which 
shows on the surface. To starch black 
sateen, percale, etc., grate raw potatoes into 
the cold, second rinsing water. — D. M. B. 

To Wash a Prepare a large dish-pan 

Brown Linen full of flour starch. Pour 

Skirt li m tne wash-tub, have 

one - fourth pound of 

cheap coffee steeped and strain in the starch 

until it is quite brown. Put the skirt in 

and rub on a board if very soiled ; if not, 

with the hands. Use no soap, the starch 

will foam up like suds. When the dirt 

is removed wring out by hand, do not 

rinse. Hang in the shade. When partly 

dry roll up and let lie an hour or so and 

iron.— G. W. H. 

To Stiffen Sheer Sheer fabrics, such as 
Fabrics chiffons or dimities, or 

all goods that do not re- 
quire starch, will gain their original crisp- 
ness if three tablespoon fuls of sugar be 
added to the rinsing water. This applies 
to all kinds of veiling. — Mrs. R. G. W. 

A Secret About A college girl who wore 
Crepe Blouses cotton crepe waists to 
save laundry bills had 
difficulty in rendering them wearable at 
first, as they were too limp if not starched 
at all and, if starched, wringing them made 
the starch uneven. She found that by 
washing them in thin starch and hanging 
them up to drain on a coat-hanger, with- 
out wringing, they were exactly right. — 
V. N. 




Rice Water for Fine 
Starching 




A Secret About 
Crepe Blouses 




To Set Colors 



Cotton or Linen No matter how fast the 
Goods in color, they will look 

Delicate Colors faded after a few wash- 
ings, but can be made to 
look like new by using a solution of dye (any 
reliable brand) of the same color as the 
garment in the same way as bluing is 
used. 

Rice Water for Save the water drained 
Fine Starching from "ce for starching 
thin linens, fine cottons, 
or any delicate fabrics. — F. E. H. 

Starching In starching muslins. 

Colored Clothes ginghams, and calico dis- 
solve a piece of alum the 
size of a hickory nut for every pint of 
starch. This will keep the colors bright 
for a long time. — E. R. G. 

Quick When washing out waists 

Stiffening or collars of thin mate- 

rial put a small quantity 
of borax in the rinse water. This will 
give the desired stiffness, and is very 
simple. — Mrs. R. E. 

To Keep the I have discovered . an 
Color of efficient method of re- 

Delicate Blouses taining the delicate col- 
ors in the various dainty 
hued blouses so much in vogue. I had a 
dainty rose blouse which was fast fading 
through many washings — a friend advised 
me to buy some rose crepe paper and use 
it exactly as one would bluing, and behold 
the result was most gratifying. I have tried 
other colors, lemon, lavender, etc., with 
equally good results. — R. T. N. 

For Colored Tack this up in your 
Materials laundry. To set colors- 

green, blue, lavender, 
aniline reds, purple, and pink should be 
soaked in alum water, two ounces to a 
tub. Black, gray, and dark blue should be 
soaked in strong salt water. — Mrs. A. B. 

To Set Colors To one gallon of water 
use a large tablespoonful 
of turpentine. Let article to be washed lie 
in the mixture fifteen minutes, wring out 
and dry, then wash in the usual manner. 
This will set the color in the most perish- 
able of all colors — lavender. Of course 
it should be done every time articles are 
washed. It is also good to clean rugs and 
carpets, as it brightens colors and is a 
good moth exterminator. After thor- 
oughly sweeping rugs wring out a cloth 
and go over them with the turpentine and 
water. — B. R. G. 



20 



Helps in Ironing and Cleaning 

Fabrics 



A Good Use for When we get new cata- 
Old Catalogues 'ogues from the seeds- 
men or the large stores, 
we use the old ones as pads for the kitchen 
table or cupboard. They are very useful 
to set a pie or cake or pan upon while cool- 
ing, and thus save the oilcloth or paint or 
woodwork. They are also useful for the 
ironing-board to clean the irons upon, and 
the leaves can be torn off as fast as they 
become worn or scorched. — Miss M. S. 

Sprinkling To sprinkle clothes eas- 

Clothei on the >'y leave them on the 

U ne l' n e and use the hose on 

them. Turn the water 

on just enough to run well and adjust the 

sprayer to make a fine spray. — Mrs. J. B. B. 

Candle Ends Tiny ends of candles 
should be kept to add to 
the starch on wash days. They will add 
to the gloss. — C. M. B. 

To Smooth When ironing, take the 

an Iron ' ron °^ tne ^ re an( ^ 

plunge it quickly into 

cold water in which a little soap has been 

dissolved. You will be surprised at the 

smoothness which will result. — Mrs.G.W.H. 

For Quick Take a five-gallon crock, 
Ironing sprinkle your clothes, 

roll tight, and pack in 
jar, covering tightly. In two hours they will 
be as nice as if they had laid all night. 
Do not sprinkle too much, as the dampness 
penetrates quickly. — O. McK. 

To Protect the For use in an ironing- 
Hand holder, a piece of leather 
cut from the top of an 
old shoe will protect the hand from the 
heat, also save callous spots from the grip 
if one uses the patent handle irons. — Mrs. 
F. F. S. 

Heating Irons When the top of the 

in the Oven stove is ful '. and >* is 

time to get dinner with 

still some ironing to be accomplished, the 

irons can be heated very nicely in the oven. 

— E. M. S. 

Restoring Black One of jny discoveries 
Goods which has proved valu- 

able is how to restore 
black goods and hats which have taken on 
a forlorn grayish hue of age. Simply 
sponge them thoroughly with alcohol. This 
will not injure the most dainty fabric, and 
they will emerge from their bath looking 
l ; ke new. — Mrs. A. W. 




Sprinkling Clothe* 
on the Line 




A Handy Ironing Board 




Heating Iron* in the Oven 



Ironing Hint A hot iron fades more 
colored articles than the 
washing. Many years ago a successful 
housekeeper showed me a red table-cloth 
that had always been ironed on the wrong 
side, which was faded pink, while the right 
side was almost like new. Since then I 
have many times found out this by experi- 
ence. — Mrs. E. L. C. 

To Iron Pieces of damask table 

Damask linen rarely require any 

starch. If they are care- 
fully washed and ironed while damp they 
will be stiff enough and wear much longer. 
Use irons as hot as possible without scorch- 
ing the linen, and iron each piece until it 
is thoroughly dry. This gives them a crisp- 
ness which can be gained in no other way, 
and linen will stay clean much longer than 
if carelessly ironed and put away limp and 
not entirely dry. Handkerchiefs should 
also be ironed with a hot iron while quite 
damp. — Mrs. J. J. O. C. 

Smooth Tahle I tighten my wringer 
Linen as ''S nt as possible, then 

after my table-cloth is 
well rinsed and folded even, I put it in hot 
water and wring it through wringer. 
I roll it up in a sheet and let it lie from 
four to six hours, and then iron until per- 
fectly dry. I do the napkins in the same 
way. They are perfectly smooth and look 
like satin.— B. E. B. 

A Handy Ironing We all know what a 
Board nuisance it is to have to 

tug out the big ironing- 
board when we want to press out a waist 
or a baby's bonnet-strings. Try padding 
the leaf of your kitchen table and cover 
it as you would your ironing-board. You 
then have your board ready at a minute's 
notice, and you will find that you can do a 
great deal of your ironing on it. — Mrs. H. 
M. F. 

Home-made Having on hand a nuni- 
Ironing Pad b er of pieces of heavy 
fluted paper which came 
around bottles, also a cup of candle drip- 
pings. I poured the melted paraffin over 
the paper, leaving a thin coating. On iron- 
ing day, I use this to rub my irons on and 
have an ideal ironing pad. — C. M. R. 

For Pressing When you press clothes 
always use a wet flan- 
nel between the hot iron and the clothes, 
and it will never leave shiny places on the 
goods— Mrs. E. P. B. 



21 



All Sorts of Stains 



To Take Out The following receipt 
Iron-Rust Stains served to take out the 
stains from half a dozen 
small pieces — handkerchiefs, jabots, etc. 
The juice of one lemon, two teaspoonfuls 
of salt, a cup of water. Put this on the 
fire, and as soon as it boils dip into it that 
part of the article which is stained. In a 
minute, or less, the spot will have entirely 
disappeared. — Frances H. J. 

Old Ink Stains Melt tallow and while 
in Cotton Goods boiling drop the ink- 
spotted material into it 
and keep the spot there until saturated. 
Then rub with soap until the spot evapo- 
rates. It may take two treatments, but 
this has removed spots after they were set 
by boiling. — E. H. 

Seven Rules Remove mildew stains 
for Stains b y boiling the garment 
in cream of tartar water 
and then laying in the sun. 

Equal parts of turpentine and ammonia 
will remove paint from clothing, no matter 
how hard it may be. 

Borax will remove the leather stains 
made by shoes on light colored stockings. 

Lemon will remove match scratches from 
paint. 

Spirits of camphor will take off peach 
stains. 

Ammonia will remove grease stains from 
white goods. 

Ether will remove stains without leaving 
a ring on the material. — Mrs. F. G. McB. 

Kerosene Oil Kerosene oil spilled on 
Stains ru gs. carpets, or any 

woolen goods may be re- 
moved by dry flour. The flour should be 
put on immediately after the oil is spilled 
and scraped off and renewed until no odor 
is left in the floor. — Kansan. 

After Using Spirits of camphor takes 

Copy Ink tne m k °^ hands and 

nails perfectly and at 

the same time does not injure the skin. 

—Sally. 

To Remove Chloroform, when ap- 
Tar plied with a piece of 

cloth, will remove grease 
of any kind from woolen. It has been used 
successfully when tar from buggy wheels 
was on the garment. But if on wash goods 
apply salty butter and rinse well with soap 
and warm water. — Mrs. L. E. M. 

Scorch Stains To effectively remove 

scorch marks from linen 

rub with a fresh cut onion, soaking the 

garment in cold water afterwards. — S. C. 

Clarke. 




To Take Oat 
Iron- Rust Stains 




To Prevent Oil Stains 




To Remove Ink 



Taking Out "A little rose water 
Spots W 'N ta ke out spots," said 

a physician who had 
dropped some oil on my light silk waist 
while treating my throat. It proved very 
effective and is not expensive. Last sum- 
mer when the white silk ribbons in my 
shoes became soiled I rubbed them thor- 
oughly with a rag saturated in rose water, 
and then rolled them around large bot- 
tles to dry. Bandeaux and sashes may be 
freshened in the same way, as it will not 
injure the most delicate colors in silks. 
— C. P. 

Iodine Stains If iodine should be 
spilled on any article 
about the sick-room, the stain may be re- 
moved by immersing the article in cold 
water to which strong household ammonia 
has been added. — Mrs. G. C. O. 

To Remove For perspiration stains 
Perspiration on silk waists sponge 
Stains tne place with a clean 

rag wet in clear cold 
water. Cover the wet places with pow- 
dered prepared chalk. Let dry and brush 
off carefully with a soft brush. — Mrs. 
L. R. M. 

To Keep Ivory As the French ivory 
White toilet sets are now so 

much in vogue and peo- 
ple are having trouble to keep them from 
turning yellow, they may be glad to know 
that by wiping them with alcohol instead 
of water they will retain their natural 
color. This also applies to piano keys, on 
which water should not be used. — Mrs. H. F. 

To Prevent Oil When using the sewing- 
Stains machine after oiling, tie 
a piece of common 
string around the lower part of the needle- 
bar, just above the screw that holds the 
needle in place. This will absorb the oil 
and there will be no more trouble with 
soiled stitching. — K. U. 

To Remove Fruit Dip the hands in strong 

Stains from the tea, rubbing them well 

Hands w i tn a nail-brush and 

afterwards wash in 

warm water. — Jessie Y. 

To Remove Ink Hydrogen Peroxide will 
remove ink from all 
kinds of cloth and wearing apparel with- 
out changing its color. Take a medicine 
dropper and fill with the Hydrogen Per- 
oxide. Saturate the cloth over the ink 
stain. Sometimes it requires several ap- 
plications. Lay the goods in the sun or air 
after each application. — A Subscriber. 



Helps with Floors and Floor 
Coverings 



To Renovate a T have found a way to 
Hardwood Floor renew an old floor. The 
oldest and most used 
up hardwood floor yields to this treatment : 
Wash the floor, using a good brush, soap, 
and two liberal tablespoonfuls of strong 
ammonia to each pailful of water. After 
the floor has dried, apply with a soft 
brush equal parts of boiled linseed oil and 
turpentine. Let this soak well into the floor. 
It will take five or six days. Then wipe 
with a cloth soaked in gasoline to remove 
any dust that may have gathered during the 
drying process. Apply a coat of good wax 
(one of the prepared makes), and rub with 
a weighted brush. Two or three even coats 
of wax may be applied if a high polish is 
desired the first time. A floor fixed in this 
way will last years if a coat of wax is 
applied about every six months. — L. W. 

Care of When buying, order the 

Linoleum linoleum an inch larger 
than your room, and do 
not tack to the floor for about two months, 
and you will find the extra inch just fills 
in nicely. Never use soap or any kind of 
washing-powder, as this takes the life out 
of linoleum. If clean water doesn't re- 
move the grease around the stove, use a 
little extra water and pure soap. After 
the linoleum has been in use three or 
four months wash carefully, and be sure 
it is perfectly clean and then varnish. The 
dealer we purchased our linoleum of said 
it would wear twice as long if varnished 
and cleaned as above stated. I made a 
little slip of the bottom part of an old apron 
with a ruffle on, gathered at the top and 
slipped over the broom, and instead of 
sweeping go over with this every day. The 
floor always looks spotless. The ruffle 
takes up the dirt and the slip is easily 
washed. — Mrs. A. L. T. 

A Burlap Floor I purchased ordinary 
Covering green burlap at fifteen 

cents a yard, which I 
sewed like a carpet and laid, having first 
removed molding at bottom of baseboard. 
I then sized the burlap with glue water 
made by dissolving stick glue in hot water. 
With this I entirely filled the pores of the 
burlap. I next applied two coats of 
"meadow grass" floor paint, and wishing 
a dull finish, when dry removed the gloss 
by gently rubbing with a cloth dipped in 
turpentine. The molding was then re- 
placed, covering tacks. This makes a san- 
itary and artistic floor covering, which is 
as durable as a hardwood floor. When 
washed with warm water it is as pretty 
as when new. — L. A. M. 




To Renovate a 
Hardwood Floor 




Care of Linoleum 




To Clean Rags 



To Keep Rugs For rugs that roll or 

from Curling cur > at the ed 8 es make a 
thin starch and rub thor- 
oughly into the parts of the rug that roll. 
Place wrong side up in a dry atmosphere for 
a few hours. — A. P. 

A Novel Kitchen I made a neat and most 
Floor Covering satisfactory covering for 
my dining-room floor of 
green denim sewed together on my ma- 
chine. It was a heavy, durable grade. 
When this faded I tacked it on my kitchen 
floor and painted it with a mixture of 
brown ochre, turpentine and linseed oil. 
This I prepared myself at a nominal cost. 
That was ten years ago, and the carpet, 
or oilcloth, is as good as when first put 
down. — Mrs. N. H. 

Care of Try sewing your new 

Matting matting with raffia. 

Dampen and split each 
strand. This will make a fine seam that 
will look well on either side. When laying 
new matting, one can prevent ridges and 
wrinkles if, after putting down as smooth 
as possible, you will wash with a pail of 
hot water to which a cup of salt has been 
added. Leave quite wet, and in drying the 
matting will shrink into place. The salt 
toughens it. Wash with the grain of the 
matting. Never sweep matting with an un- 
covered broom, as it will split the fibre, 
but cover the broom with a soft Canton 
flannel bag and dip in salt water to brighten 
it. — Grandma. 

A Bathroom A practical bathroom 
Rug ru 8 can be made from 

discarded underwear by 
cutting the best parts into narrow strips 
and joining them as for carpet rags and 
then crocheting them with a large wooden 
hook, using the single crochet stitch. — M. 
R. L. S. 

To Clean Rugs Lay the rug on the 

porch and take a hand 
scrubbing brush and soap and scrub thor- 
oughly. After scrubbing take several buck- 
ets of cold water and dash upon the rug, 
rinsing it in this way. Do not wring. 
Take the rug out and lay flat on the grass 
to dry. Do not hang, as it will stretch an 
ugly shape. Turn occasionally until thor- 
oughly dry. — F. E. 

To Save Floors If the iron rollers on 
furniture are given a 
coat of paint, they will not leave the 
unsightly marks on matting that they do 
if not treated in such a manner. — N. F. G. 



23 



Helps About the Dining Room 



A Help in When feeding a small 
Feeding Children child bread spread with 
butter or jam, cut the 
bread into thin slices and fold over into 
sandwiches. There will then be no "but- 
ter side" to fall on the carpet, nor will they 
get the butter or jam on their fingers or 
dresses. — Mrs. M. 

Color an A housekeeper who has 
Appetizer a comfortable, happy 
family declares that ap- 
petites are as responsive to "color" as to 
articles of food. In the summer she tries 
to have the dining-table furnishings and 
flowers a cooling green and white, and 
in the autumnal time the supper-table 
glows with doilies made of red crash and 
with a similar mat of larger proportion 
for a centrepiece, on which rests a brass 
bowl holding a pot of bright red gerani- 
ums. 

A New Use for In many houses there 
Ugly Pictures are pictures well faded 
and strongly framed, 
which cannot be said to adorn the walls 
upon which they hang. If you have such 
a one with a wooden frame, substitute a 
pretty piece of chintz for the picture un- 
der the glass, get a pair of brass handles 
at the hardware store and screw one on 
each end. Glue a piece of felt to fit the 
back and you have a nice tray. — K. A. C. 

A Summer Help We are all familiar with 

Not Often paper napkins, but few 

•? «. ii j housekeepers have the 
Enough Used coufage * to be umike 

other people and use them except for pic- 
nics. In any summer cottage, however, they 
can easily save much washing and iron- 
ing. Paper napkins can be purchased by 
the hundred in a variety of designs. 
Choose a floral design to match the fresh 
flowers used as a centrepiece that day. A 
variety of designs makes a pretty change 
from day to day, or the ones which are all 
white with a gold initial are light and at- 
tractive. Use a paper napkin for a centre- 
piece and one under each plate whenever 
linen doilies would otherwise be used. 
They may also be used on trays, either for 
the guest-room or piazza. — Mrs. H. H. 

Table Decorating One of the most satis- 
Hint factory colors to use for 

table decorating is rose- 
pink, which bears the light of sun and ar- 
tificial lights without much change. So 
often one plans a color scheme and, alas ! 
when the lights are turned on the blue looks 
green, violet changes its hue, and yellow 
looks pale and faded. Red is a splendid 
color to use in winter, but is dangerous 
in combination. — Mrs. W. M. C. 




A Time Saver 




A New Vie for 
Ugly Picture* 




The Old Tray Made New 



24 



A Time Saver To the woman doing her 
own work a wheel-tray 
for the dining-room is a great time-saver. 
Discarded baby carts or any cart with 
small wheels can be picked up "for a song" 
in a second-hand store and with a little 
carpentry work a nice wheel-tray can be 
built.— Mrs. C. M. B. 

A Rose and In strawberry time it is 
Green Table verv eas y to nav e a pret- 
ty table to correspond 
with the fruit which is a favorite with 
every one. Choose some green linen of the 
soft tone described best as "gray-green," 
and work a buttonholed edge in a rose 
color that will harmonize with the straw- 
berry tint. Use these on the polished table. 
As a centrepiece use a green and rose 
raffia basket filled with perfect strawber- 
ries and leaves. — S. L. 

A Handsome One of Grandma's old 
China Closet bureaus will make a 
nice china closet by put- 
ting in glass doors and giving the whole 
a coat of varnish. If mahogany, have it 
restored to its own beauty by a cabinet- 
maker. — R. J. S. 

A Useful Living in a small house 

Screen and finding it necessary 

to combine kitchen and 
dining-room, I took a fourfold screen and 
filled each panel with dark green denim. 
Then I purchased four fruit pictures, six- 
teen by twenty, and bound the edges with 
green sateen the shade of the denim. 
These I tacked across the top of each panel. 
This was set across the corner I used for 
the kitchen, thereby suggesting a parti- 
tion. On the back, or kitchen side of the 
screen, I made large pockets of the denim 
and tacked across the lower edge. These 
are a great convenience in holding kitchen 
towels, dust-cloths, etc. Hooks were 
screwed in one panel top and bottom and 
eyes screwed into the wall, and in this way 
the screen could be fastened to avoid dan- 
ger of being knocked over. — E. S. 

The Old Tray When a japanned tray 
Made New becomes old and chipped 
give it two coats of 
white paint and one of enamel, the bot- 
tom as well as the top. Stand it on edge 
to dry after each coat. It will be found 
as good as new, as well as very pretty. 
The enamel is easily renewed. — N. H. 



New Use for 
Mailing Tubes 



One mailing-tube will 
make several napkin- 
rings. Cut it the width 
required. Cover with pretty wall-paper, or 
with embroidered linen if preferred. — E. F. 



Helps with Linen 



Strengthening Pil-Pillow-slips made from 
low Slip* Made tubing may be given a 
from Tubing longer lease of life by 
reversing the end seam. 
Rip the seam and turn half way around 
from the way it was at first, so that the 
former side folds are now in the centre, 
then stitch up again. This gives a new sur- 
face for the heavier wear and doubles the 
service of the pillow-slips. — Mrs. A. G. 

To Save Sheet* If the woman who does 
and Pillow Case* ne >" ° wn laundry work 
will try folding sheets 
and table-covers with the selvage edges 
together and pinning them to the line she 
will never go back to the old way. As the 
corners of pillow-cases where pinned to 
the line are the first to wear out, the wise 
woman makes them several inches longer 
than they are needed. When they wear 
out cut them off and finish as before. — C. 
F. R. 

To Mark Linen To mark linen easily dip 

Easily tne article to be marked 

in cold starch and let it 

dry. The pen will write then without 

scratching. — Mrs. L. H. E. 

When Putting In putting away white 
Away Clothe* goods from one season 
to another, to keep them 
from yellowing, take a bag made of any old 
sheet, wash clean, dip in strong bluing water, 
and dry. It should be very blue. Put clean, 
unstarched clothes in bag loosely and hang 
in a dark closet. — F. W. P. 

A Linen Many times, in a large 

Substitute family of children, or in 
boarding-h ouses, the 
housekeeper finds her supply of napery in- 
sufficient to meet the demands for fresh 
napkins. I have found the following plan 
a satisfactory one, as it affords an ample 
quantity at but little expense. To make 
one dozen napkins I get three yards of soft 
Indian head at fifteen cents a yard. From 
each side I cut away the selvage edge, then 
cut or tear the material through the centre 
lengthwise, which gives two long strips of 
equal width. To be accurate, I measure 
the strips across, then measure the same 
number of inches down the side, draw a 
thread and cut my first napkin. This may 
serve as a pattern for the remaining eleven, 
or they may be measured in the same way 
as the first. When cut, I fringe them one 
and one-half inches around. To prevent 
raveling, and give a finished look, it is well 
to whip the napkin between the threads of 
the fringe. This same Indian head, I find, 
makes most excellent and durable pillow- 
cases, which when hemstitched, are scarcely 
distinguishable from linen. — H. K. G. 




Care of Centrepiece* 




Hanging Tablecloth* 




Care of I have seen a number 

Centrepiece* P* methods for keeping 
centrepieces fresh, but I 
like my way the best. Perhaps other 
people would like to try it. I took two yards 
of cretonne, hemmed each end and folded 
it in the centre and sewed on some loops 
so I could hang it up in the closet or any 
convenient place. Then I took muslin and 
made as many folds as I had centrepieces 
and sewed them in the cretonne cover, 
exactly like the leaves in a book. As I 
iron my centrepieces I pin each one in a 
leaf. When I want one to use it is smooth 
and fresh and will lay flat on the table. — 
Mrs. C. K. 

A Help with When you buy a new 
Napkin* piece of linen for nap- 

kins, before cutting them 
apart overcast the two ends and put the 
pieces through the wash once. Then cut 
them apart and hem and you will find the 
labor of hemming simplified tenfold. — E. 
G. H. 

To Whiten When you wash un- 

Unbleached bleached sheeting or tu- 

Sheeting bing, m order to bleach it 

yourself, always rinse it 

in clear water. Bluing in your rinse water 

will make it look dark gray. Rinsing in 

clear water it becomes pure white. — G. R. 

Hanging When hanging table- 

Tablecloth* cloths and sheets on the 
line hang by the hems, 
as this will save the hems and keep the 
wind from whipping them out. — N. M. 



Summer I bought heavy white 

Counterpane* sheeting, cut out the 
corners to fit the iron 
beds just as counterpanes are cut, hemmed 
these all around and stitched on a good 
substantial torchon lace edging. The beds 
look nicely dressed, and laundering them 
is as easy as doing the sheet. 

To Keep Linen Always wrap table or 
White bed linen which is to be 

stored away in dark blue 
paper to keep it from turning yellow. 



To Save Dish 
Towel* 



To Save Dish Towel* 



Besides the ever- ready 
newspapers for the 
k i tc hen have a, wall 
pocket made from oilcloth, ticking, or 
cretonne. Into this tuck odds and ends of 
clean cloth to be used for wiping out bak- 
ing tins and wiping off fingers when baking 
and for many other purposes. Burn when 
through with each piece. — C. M. R. 



25 



Helps When Entertaining 



Inexpensive Save some of the juice 
Punch from sweet peach pickles 

(I purposely make more 
than I need for my pickles), put it in cans 
just as you do for peaches and every ti.ne 
you empty a can of peaches save the juice. 
To one quart of this juice add six lemons, 
four cups of sugar, one-half bottle of grape 
juice. From this results a bowl full of 
delicious punch. — Mrs. W. W. G. 

Entertaining A way out of the dif- 
Small Children Acuity of the much 
dreaded muss when 
mother permits her little ones a holiday in 
the kitchen with their hands in the dough 
is as follows : Add two heaping tablespoon- 
fuls of salt to each half cup of stiff dough 
made of flour and water. I have yet to 
discover its equal in entertaining youngsters 
on a rainy day when they become unusually 
restless, as this mixture can be molded and 
remolded and finally made in forms and put 
aside to dry and harden. If put in the oven 
to dry it becomes like marble, while the 
babies emerge perfectly clean. — Mrs. J. S. 

A Reserve If all housekeepers would 
Dinner trv nl y P' an 0I a reserve 

dinner, they need never 
fear any inconvenience when the husband 
telephones that he is bringing home a guest, 
or when friends appear unexpectedly to 
"stay to lunch." I have a shelf in my cup- 
board that always holds some canned goods 
that, with the help of a fire, can be made 
into a delicious meal. Soups, extracts of 
beef to make bouillon, canned meat which 
can be simply heated and served with a 
thickened gravy or made into croquettes; a 
few of the best quality of canned vegetables ; 
and some canned peaches, pears, and straw- 
berries ; and a canned plum pudding. Thus, 
with very little labor, I can serve soup, 
meat, and vegetables ; make a salad dressing 
for either egg or vegetable salad and a 
sauce for pudding ; or beat ten cents' worth 
of thick cream and have canned peaches 
with whipped cream. I also keep a few 
choice crackers in jars — plain ones for soup, 
and fancy dainties to serve with desserts if 
the cake tin should be empty when a guest 
happens in for a cup of afternoon tea. As 
one can is used I replenish the supply, so 
am never at a loss for an unexpected dinner. 

To Keep Sand- Wrap in a napkin wrung 
wicb.es Fresh out OI hot water, and 
put away in a cool place 
until needed. — Miss E. H. 

To Keep Choco- Chocolate made before 

late Hot 'he guests arrived, and 

put in the fireless cooker, 

was piping hot two hours later, when we 

wanted to serve it. — G. W. 




Pretty Luncheon Idea 




A Reserve Dinner 




For Round Sandwich 
Loaves 



26 



Pretty Luncheon Fill a clear glass bowl, 
Idea suc h as used for gold- 

fish, with carbonated 
water. In it place a bouquet of nasturtiums 
and their leaves. The escaping gas in the 
water creeps over each leaf and flower, 
making the whole seem covered with dew. 
It is a most refreshing bit of coolness on a 
hot day. — Mrs. G. A. 

A New Idea Some friends of ours 
who have an interesting 
family of daughters, artistic and literary, 
conceived the idea of making their note 
books valuable to all concerned. "One new 
thing a day" is the rule in the house, to 
bring to the others. A new joke, a new 
suggestion or impression, or criticism even. 
This makes the gathering together at the 
supper table a cheery event, while the 
furnishings of the house, the variety of the 
table, and cheerfulness of the whole family 
reflect the rule, giving the frequent visitors 
a "new idea" of charming hospitality. 

A Use for Old I no longer throw away 
Calendars mv °W calendars which 
are filled with quotations, 
good advice, or a bit of fun. In an extremity 
for place-cards one day, I cut out the most 
adaptable ones for my guests. They were 
gaily and prettily printed, and I could not 
have found sentiments more suitable if I 
had spent hours searching the shops. — E. S. 

The Small Guest In a childless home the 
small guest is often with- 
out entertainment. A little forethought will 
provide plenty of amusement if all odds 
and ends, pictures, silk scraps, fashion plates, 
tissue paper, etc., are stored in a box kept 
for that purpose. Little girls often enjoy 
making a kitchen holder or outlining a small 
doily for their hostess. 

For Round Sand- Pretty frills of entertain- 
wich Loaves m 8 ar e not necessarily 
expensive. When baking 
bread, make one or two little loaves by filling 
well-greased, pound-size baking-powder tins 
with dough. Fill only full enough to permit 
dough to rise just to the top. Thin sand- 
wiches of these round slices of bread make 
a dainty bite with a cup of afternoon tea. 
— Louise. 

The Entertain- On holidays and birth- 

ment Box da . vs man y P rett V but 

useless things come into 
the house; cards, bits of gay ribbon, gauzes, 
boxes, spangles, tinsel, tissues and favors. 
We put them all away in the "Entertainment 
Box." It is surprising how often the needed 
things for church entertainments, children's 
parties, decorations, place-cards, and the 
dressing of dolls can be found in this 
box. — E. S. 



Serving for Family and Guest 



A Box for Meal A pasteboard box may 
Suggestions be fastened to the kitchen 
wall and divided into 
three compartments marked "Breakfast," 
"Dinner," and "Supper," or "Breakfast," 
"Luncheon" and "Dinner." Each member 
of the household may drop a written re- 
quest into any of the compartments con- 
taining the name of some particular dish 
for which he may be hungry. In this way 
the mother may receive some ideas or at 
least know she is giving the family what 
they particularly desire. — G. M. C. K. 

A Help with If housewives will try 
Muffins tm s method of taking 

time by the forelock, 
they need not dread the morning hurry. 
While supper is cooking every night grease 
the gem tins and stand them at the back 
of the range. In a large bowl place the 
Hour, corn meal, or rye meal, or graham 
flour, the necessary salt, sugar, and baking 
powder. Turn the heat into the oven, for 
a good deal of heat may be stored in this 
way. In the morning the oven is quickly 
hot with the new tire, it is but a minute's 
task to beat one or two eggs, according to 
the recipe, adding necessary milk and beat- 
ing into the dry materials. The muffin tins 
are ready by simply heating. 

For a Child's I have found that there 
Party ' s nothing prettier for a 

centrepiece for the table 
at a child's party than wee crocks of tiny 
growing ferns and others of tiny geraniums 
in bloom. These are massed in the centre. 
Attach to each a ribbon leading to a place- 
card with the child's name thereon. At 
the end of the party each child hunts the 
plant at the end of his ribbon and takes it 
home. Thus the plants serve for decorations 
and as a favor. — Bf.f.. 

Putting Away Instead of putting away 

Food remnants of food in the 

dish in which they were 

I, or into another clean one, make them 

ready to warm for another meal. For 

instance, a few baked beans, or a little stew, 

may be put into a small granite basin in 

which it is to be warmed. These may be 

purchased for five cents. — Mrs. R. L. 

A Wise Children sometimes form 

Deception a distaste for milk when 
it should fill an important 
place in their diet. In some cases it has 
proved a good plan to get an odd glass (a 
colored tumbler with their initials on it), 
a glass water-set or simply a little pitcher 
and mug. The beauty of the strange re- 
ceptacle or the fun of pouring the milk will 
cause them to forget how much milk tjiey are 
drinking. 




A Box for 
Meal Suggestion* 



iLCJ 




For a Child's Party 




A Christmas Decoration 



To Cut Butter To cut butter in blocks 
in Blocks f° r tne taD ' e foW a knife 
blade in waxed paper and 
the blocks will cut smoothly. — S. L. R. 

Economy in When one fruit or vege- 
Cooking and table is expensive, sub- 
Servi stitute another, always 

" consideringthe food value 

of the article. It is important that every 
housekeeper should experiment with the fire- 
less cooker. Where gas is used for cooking, 
economize by cooking over one burner. The 
writer purchased a large old-fashioned 
steamer for a trifle. In this four or five of the 
three-pound lard pails with covers can be 
used. In one can be potatoes, in others cab- 
bage, onions, etc., a pudding, rice, and even 
the coffee. A beef loaf may be placed in a 
larger pail in the kettle of water under the 
steamer, and, if necessary, another steamer 
may be placed over this one and a dish of 
apples cooked for another meal. When 
tomatoes are to be cooked use a bowl. 
Experiments will show the possibilities of 
the old-fashioned steamer. When obliged 
to use the gas oven, plan to use it for the 
entire meal. Always make foods palatable. 
A high authority declares that palatable 
food is more digestible and nourishing than 
that which does not please the palate. Some 
of the best French dishes are made from 
the cheaper cuts. — Mrs. C. W. C. 

A Christmas Whether there be chil- 
Decoration dren or only grown- 
ups in the family, sus- 
pend a hoop wound with evergreens from 
the chandelier in horizontal position by 
means of bright red ribbons. From the 
hoop hang small stockings made out of 
bright red mosquito netting. These may be 
tied in place with red bows or green bows 
of ribbon, and each bears a tag with the 
name of a member of the family. They may 
hold bonbons or some little gift. A pretty 
fancy is to have all the gifts on a table 
simply numbered. On the top of each stock- 
ing may be placed a slip of paper with a 
list of the numbers which mark each in- 
dividual's gifts, and at a given time all may 
search and find their own. — Hostess. 

For a May An effective table-cover 
Luncheon for a May luncheon is 
made of any of the cheap 
flowered materials which come for curtain- 
ing. Sew the desired number of strips 
together, with pink or green ribbon .basted 
over the joinings. For a centrepiece use 
a pink and green basket filled with apple 
blossoms. At each place have a small 
flower-pot painted green filled with pink 
candies, and stick a spray of apple blossoms 
in the top of each pot. — S. L. 



27 



Helps with Glass and China 



A Great Conve- A tall dipper or large 
nience to have open-mouthed glass jar 
Back of the Sink '"to which water can be 
poured conveniently, is a 
great convenience to have back of the sink. 
In it egg-beaters and spoons, knives, forks, 
etc., used in beating or eating eggs can be 
placed while preparing other dishes for 
washing. If stood in cold water one will 
never have to waste time cleaning an egg- 
beater on which egg has encrusted, which, 
as every housewife knows, is a wearisome 
task. On the same principle fill all cereal 
pans, vegetable pans, etc., with cold water 
and stand at the back of the range while the 
meal is in progress. Much scraping of pans 
can be saved by this little forethought. — S. L. 

To Wash Milk If the glasses that have 

Glasses ne 'd milk be first rinsed 

in cold water they may 

be safely washed in hot. If dipped in hot 

water as soon as they are emptied, the milk 

is coagulated and clouds the glass. 

The Use of Molds To remove anything 
from a mold when cold, 
wrap a hot cloth about the outside of the 
mold for a minute or two. To remove a 
hot viand, wrap a cold cloth about the mold. 
— M. C. 

When Glasses To separate them with- 
Stick Together out breaking set the 
lower glass in warm 
water and fill the upper one with cold water 
and the heat and cold, respectively, expand- 
ing the lower and contracting the upper, 
they are easily slipped apart. — E. 

Cleaning A handful of salt and a 
Decanters cupful of vinegar shaken 
up well in a cloudy 
decanter will clean it like magic. Rinse 
well in hot water several times to remove 
all taste of salt. It will be beautifully clear 
and clean. — M. G. U. 

To Mend China Common white lead will 
mend glass or china so 
it will wear as long as if new. Apply to 
broken edges, place carefully together, and 
tie the dish to hold it until paint becomes 
perfectly dry. — L. W. 

To Clean Cruets To clean vinegar cruets 
use warm water with 
about a spoonful of soda. After shaking, 
the cruet is cleaned perfectly. — Miss 
L. M. F. 

To Hold Plates Glass push-pins put in 

in China Closet with a firm pressure (one 

in front of each piece) 

make a very satisfactory rest for light 

pieces, and are scarcely noticeable. — F. F. 




A Great Convenience to 
Have Back of the Sink 




To Dry Lamp Chimneys 




The Habit of Trays 



Brushes for Dish I use a little hand-brush 
Washing i" place of the old-time 

dish-cloth. I find it gets 
in the creases better than a cloth, besides 
being more sanitary. It will not scratch or 
mar, but is quite as effective as a knife for 
scraping in cases where the food adheres to 
the dishes or cooking utensils. I keep one 
for washing the dishes and one for scouring 
purposes. — Mrs. O. C. McM. 

Tempering China Before I use new thin 
and Glass china I put it in a pan 
of cold water allowing 
it gradually to come to the boil. Then take 
it off and let it stay in the water until the 
water is cold. It can then resist the sudden 
expansion caused by heat and breakages will 
be far less frequent. The water should heat 
and cool as gradually as possible. My lamp 
chimneys I treat in the same way with 
excellent results. — Mrs. N. G. M. 

Drying Dishes The greatest saving of 

time I have found in 

years is to wash the dishes, place in wire 

draining-basket, scald, and put on the 

radiator or in a warm oven. — Mrs. E. B. 

To Dry Lamp Wash and rinse chimneys 

Chimneys ' n not water. Stand on 

the radiator on a dry 

cloth, or in a wire dish-drainer on the 

back of the stove. The glass will be 

clean, dry, and bright. — B. G. 

To Clean Coffee When teapots and coffee- 
and Teapots P ots become discolored 
inside boil them up in 
cold water with two teaspoon fuls of baking- 
soda. — "Betsy Clover." 

Excellent China An excellent cement for 
Cement broken china or bric-a- 

brac is made by mixing 
half an ounce of gum arabic with a half 
teaspoonful of boiling milk and adding 
enough plaster of Paris to make a creamy 
paste. To use successfully have the pieces 
that are to be mended warm and apply with 
a soft brush. Set aside for several days, to 
become thoroughly dry. They can then be 
washed in either warm or cold water with 
safety.— A. C. H. 

The Habit of Use a tray to carry the 
Trays dishes and other things 

from the cupboard to 
the table, this saves many steps, not only in 
setting the table, but in clearing it after the 
meal. The same may be said of baskets. 
Have one or two handy sized baskets and 
make a practice of stocking them to take up 
stairs or down as things accumulate out of 
place. Many helps are simply habits to 
be acquired. — Mrs. B. 



28 



At House Cleaning Time 



For Mending For mending tubs or 
Tub» or Vessels other vessels which are 
not used about the fire 
take old can rubbers and melt them in a 
tin can or lid. Apply while hot, smoothing 
it with a knife. Vessel will hold water 
as well as when new and will last a long 
time, costing nothing but a little time to 
renew. — Mrs. F. C. 

Any Tin Bucket, especially one used for 
slops or water, when 
painted inside and out with asphalt will 
last for years. When the asphalt com- 
mences to look rusty after long use re- 
paint, which will renew all usefulness. Five 
cents' worth will paint any ordinary water 
bucket. I have one bucket that has been 
in use seven or eight years which has been 
painted only twice. — Laura P. 

For Smoke Black- This is an excellent way 
ened Ceilings f or cleaning smoke- 
blackened ceilings. Make 
a fairly thick paste of starch and water ; 
apply this with a pad of flannel and allow 
it to dry on, then brush off with a soft 
brush and you will find result well worth 
the trouble. — Miss R. McK. 

To Remove Paint Paint may be removed 
From Glass frorn . window glass by 
rubbing it well with hot, 
strong vinegar. — Mrs. Richard J. 

A Satisfactory An expert wood-finisher 
Polish gave the following meth- 

od for French polishing 
with the usual rubbing cut out. Cover wood 
surface with any good floor varnish, when 
perfectly hard rub with powdered pumice- 
stone, slightly dampened with oil. Wash 
off with cold water and rub with a clean 
cloth dipped in raw linseed oil. — A. L. L. 

A New Use for When dusting or clean- 
Dish Mop in g floors there are al- 
ways some places where 
even the finest mop will not clean, espe- 
cially in corners and under some pieces of 
furniture and under and around radiators, 
where much dust collects. To clean these 
places I have found one of the dish mops, 
to be found at any ten-cent store, works 
like a charm. — E. T. 

The Use of When using plaster of 
Plaster of Paris Paris to fill cracks in 
plaster, etc., mix with 
vinegar instead of water. The resultant 
mass will be like putty, and will not "set" 
for about an hour; whereas, if water is 
used, the plaster will harden before you can 
use it successfully. Push plaster into cracks 
and smooth nicely with a table or J>utty- 
knife.— A. C. F. 




A Box for the 
Scrubbing Pail 




Economy of Time 
and Labor in Dusting 




To Renew Old 
Varnished Furniture 



Economy of Time Dusting with a rag is a 

and Labor in laborious and tedious 

Dusting task. Feathers are not 

so good, as they leave 

the cracks dirty and have a tendency to 

knock off light ornaments. A soft bristled 

paint-brush, or a duster of similar make, 

something like a soft hearth duster, is a fine 

substitute. I have discovered also that a 

five-cent dish-mop makes a splendid duster. 

It can be washed, too. — Miss E. G. H. 

Renovating Window shades that 
Shades have become cracked and 

broken can be reno- 
vated by laying them flat on the floor and 
painting them with ordinary oil paint 
bought at any hardware store in small cans. 
Paint one side, let dry thoroughly before 
touching the other side. This treatment 
preserves the shades and makes them last 
for years. — F. M. S. 

Floor Mop I always get a new floor 
mop before I begin to 
house clean and use it for wiping the wall- 
paper and woodwork. Then when I have 
finished cleaning I wash it out and use for 
a floor mop. This is so much better than 
a cloth tied over a broom or anything of 
the kind I have ever tried. — "A Sub- 
scriber." 

A Box for the As an aid when scrub- 
Scrubbing Pail b ' n S tak e a wooden box 
large enough to hold the 
scrubbing-pail. Fit it with castors and set 
the pail in it and push around as desired, 
instead of lifting it to move it. — A. D. P. 

To Renew Old To make old furniture 
Varnished look like new make two 

Furniture quarts of thick starch 

and add to the starch 
four tablespoon fuls of lye and mix thor- 
oughly. Using a paint-brush, paint the 
piece of furniture with this mixture. After 
a few minutes wash off thoroughly with 
the hose (if outdoors), a brush if one 
must be inside. The starch will take off 
all the finish on the furniture down to the 
natural wood. After drying well apply 
a coat of wood filler and then varnish, 
and the piece of furniture will look like 
new. The amount of work is small and the 
result gratifying. — N. C. H. 

To Keep the To keep the zinc on my 
Zinc Bright work-table looking bright 
I use an old worn-out 
scrub-brush and a little scouring pow- 
der once a week. I find the brush more 
effective than a cloth and the task is 
easier. — Housekeeper. 



20 



Cleaning This and That 



Some Cleaning I. Clean satin slippers 
Hints °f an y color with 

denatured alcohol. 2. 
Straw hats may be cleaned with a piece of 
velvet dipped in alcohol. 3. Rub a piece of 
crinoline over suede or velvet shoes, purses, 
etc. This will remove the dirt, rub up the 
pile, and make them look like new. 4. 
Camphor removes peach stains. 5. Ink 
stains on linen are removed with chloroform. 
6. Scorches will disappear if diluted peroxide 
is applied. 7. When washing or cleaning 
dresses, whether woolen or cotton, hang on 
a coat-hanger on the clothes-line and the 
garment will retain its shape and will also 
be easier to iron. 8. Rub corn meal into 
panama hats to clean them. — G. J. E. 

To Clean Ivory A paste of dampened 
sawdust and a few drops 
of lemon juice applied thickly to carved 
ivory and allowed to dry before brushing 
off with a small brush will clean the ivory 
very nicely. — Mrs. E. A. 

To Clean White To clean white iron bed- 
Iron Bedsteads steads I use a damp 
cloth and a little cooking 
soda. This will leave the bedstead clean 
and white. I have also found that soda will 
remove nearly all stains from the sink. 

To Clean To clean leather up- 
Leather holstery wash the leather 
with warm water to 
which is added a little good vinegar. Use 
an absolutely clean sponge. Wipe dry with 
a soft, clean cloth. To restore the polish, 
prepare the whites of two or three eggs 
with a teaspoon ful of turpentine to each 
egg. This should be whisked briskly, then 
rubbed into the dry leather with a piece of 
clean linen cloth. — Mrs. H. C. W. 

Cleaning Kitchen Every kitchen has a few 
Utensils ' ron an ^ tm utensils, and 

they are hard to keep 
clean, even with frequent scouring. Boiling 
in lye water is the easiest way to do this. 
I put a can of lye into the wash kettle, put in 
the pots and skillets which had become un- 
tidy and filled the kettle with water to cover 
utensils. After boiling they were easily 
scrubbed with a stiff brush and good suds. 
A little scouring makes them bright and 
clean. This is especially good for broilers, 
iron pots, griddles, etc. Use a hooked wire 
to pull them out of the lye water and scrub 
them while wet and hot. After being sub- 
merged in the hot suds the lye will not hurt 
the hands.— B. R. C. 

To Clean Nickel Turpentine and whiting 
mixed cleans nickel 
beautifully.— Mrs. J. B. S. 




An Easy Way to 
Clean Rug* 




To Clean Leather 




To Clean the To remove hair and 
Carpet Sweeper threads from the carpet- 
sweeper, buy a ten-cent 
wire hair brush, remove brush from sweeper 
and run wire brush through the sweeper- 
brush. I find this saves time and patience, 
also the hands. — Mrs. M. E. S. 

An Easy Way to Sweep well, hang over a 

Clean Rugs clothes-line, turn the 

hose on full force, till the 

water runs perfectly clear and let the rug 

drip dry. 

To Clean Lamp When your lamps smoke 
Burners badly and you think it 

necessary to buy new 
burners, try boiling the burners for half an 
hour in water, to which has been added a 
quantity of soda, removing from water while 
hot, so that they may be easily dried. This 
thoroughly cleans them, and your light will 
be as bright as when burners were new. 

Tufted Leather An excellent way to clean 
Chairs and tufted leather chairs and 
r* davenports is to get a 

Davenports soft paint . brush and dip 

in warm castor oil. The dust can thus be 
removed easily from all plaits and folds and 
makes the leather soft and bright. 

To Clean Mix equal parts of am- 
Ivory Handles m onia and olive oil. Add 
prepared chalk to make a 
paste. Rub the ivory with this and let dry 
before brushing off. If very much dis- 
colored several applications are sometimes 
necessary. — "A Subscriber." 

A Sweeping Before attempting to dust 
Hint under dressers, com- 

modes, wardrobes, etc., 
remove the lower drawers. — J. W. 

Cleaning Paste I find that whiting and 

for Glass and ammonia, mixed to a 

M 1 paste, will make windows 

OTetal and glass and metal of 

almost all kinds extra bright. Five cents' 

worth will make enough to last for a number 

of cleanings. Rub paste on the article to be 

cleaned and leave it on until nearly dry, 

then remove with a dry cloth. When the 

paste hardens, dampen with a little water 

before using. — B. I. S. 

To Clean the I think I have found an 
Porch easv wav t0 clean porches, 

I use a sprayer, the kind 
that will throw the water against the ceiling 
and walls with force. The water should be 
warm and there should be plenty of it. When 
through spraying use a broom or long- 
handled brush to remove what few fly specks 
there are remaining. — Miss B. S. 



Cleaning and Dyeing 

CAUTION. — Never use gasoline near flame or fire of any sort. Large quan- 
tities should be used in the open air. Fumes should not be inhaled. Keep 
gasoline in a cool place. 



To Clean To clean ostrich feathers 
Feather* Quickly'" gasoline so they can 
be used at once : To a 
quart of gasoline add about five drops of 
oil of sassafras. Dip the feathers in this 
and rub briskly. Then shake out the 
plumes until dry. This should be done in 
the open air, away from fires. — G. M. K. 

For Cleaning Take a small piece of 
Velvet Surface* crinoline after brushing 
the velvet and rub against 
the nap. This will remove every particle 
of dust, leaving it rich and clean. This 
was recommended by a very good ladies' 
tailor. Crinoline can be purchased at any 
dry-goods store. — E. B. 

A White Hat A handsome white sailor 
Turned to a hat for which I paid $5 
Beautiful Brown i> ec ? me dusty and soiled. 
1 cleaned it with lemon 
juice, but that turned it too yellow, so I 
bought a twenty-cent can of dark walnut 
stain and painted the hat inside and out. I 
gave it two coats, the first very thin. I 
bought a brown velvet band of a harmon- 
izing shade and the effect is perfect. — 
L. L. 

A Quick Way to I cleaned three entire 
Clean Garments costumes and two waists 
in my washing-machine. 
The washer was manipulated in the usual 
way and the garments run through the 
wringer, thereby eliminating any possible 
injury to the hands. Three gallons of the 
gasoline at sixteen cents a gallon was the 
amount used. A cleaner would have 
charged me $1.50 each for cleaning these 
garments. — S. C. 

To Sponge a Sponge your old blue 

Blue Suit suit with strong bluing 

water, then press on the 

wrong side and you will be delighted with 

the result.— E. W. P. 

To Renew Hat* Once being caught in a 
heavy shower and with- 
out an umbrella I thought my new hat, 
which was thoroughly wet, was ruined. On 
reaching home I set about to see what 1 
could do. By turning it upside down and 
pinning to the gas fixture, through the lin- 
ing, with hatpins, I found I had it in a good 
position and put the flowers and ribbon in 
best condition possible by pulling in shape 
and left the hat to dry. When thoroughly 
dry it was scarcely injured. — Rose C. 




To Clean Delicate 
Fabric* 




A White Hat Turned to 
a Beautiful Brown 




To Renew Hats 



To Wa*h and Dye This method may be used 
Cotton Laces to match any color. To 
wash laces, make a suds 
of pure soap and tepid water. Let laces 
soak for half an hour. Squeeze them 
between hands to get the water out. Make 
fresh suds, souse in water again, and rinse 
in two waters. Do not rub, but squeeze, 
lest the meshes break. In last water put a 
few drops of dissolved gum arabic. If lace 
is cream or ecru, add a few drops of orange 
dye to last water ; if pure white, a few drops 
of bluing. Spread on sheets to dry. When 
nearly dry, pull gently into shape and roll 
from one end, keeping edges even. Wrap 
in a damp cloth for a half-hour and press 
with a not very hot iron, pressing towards 
the scalloped edge of the lace. — M. L. T. 

To Clean Deli- To clean Irish crochet or 
cate Fabric* an y delicate fabric which 
will not stand rubbing, 
put into a fruit jar (or any jar that can be 
tightly sealed), with enough gasoline to 
cover the article, seal the jar and shake, 
about three minutes. Let stand fifteen 
minutes or more and shake again, open the 
jar, take out the article being treated and 
let drain a moment; if the dirt is not all re- 
moved rub lightly with the gasoline, replace 
and shake again; when dry the article will 
look like new. — C. F. L. W. 

Gasoline To clean perfectly with 

Cleansing gasoline use a mild soap, 

washing the article as if 

you were using water instead of gasoline. 

This does not injure the fabric and will 

remove grease. — I 7 .. H. M. 

To Clean Fur* For light furs mix 
together a pint of flour, 
a pint of bran, and a tablespoonful of fuller-' 
earth. Brush 'and shake the furs, then lay 
them on a table and rub with the above 
mixture, using a coarse piece of flannel and 
rubbing the wrong way of the fur. Shake 
out all the cleaning material, and go over 
the fur again in the same way, using only 
bran this time. Shake out the bran and 
wipe the fur with cheese-cloth. Dark furs 
are cleaned in the same way, save that hot 
bran alone is used. Heat the bran in the 
oven. — H. R. 

A Cleaning Hint I have found that gaso- 
line will not make a circle 
on material if it is mixed with corn meal. 
Rub the spot with the saturated corn meal 
until the spot disappears then brush 
thoroughly. — Mrs. F. A. 



Things Good to Know 



A Cupid Apron I would like to tell of a 
for Christmas Cupid's apron which has 
proved a very fetching 
gift for young girls. The apron proper 
is a heart with point downwards. The 
bib also is a heart while two smaller 
hearts serve as pockets and grace the ends 
of the strings. These can be made of sheer 
organdy, briar-stitched with blue or pink 
and edged with Valenciennes. — Mrs. J. 



Utilizing Fruit Having lived several 

and Vegetable y ears near a fruit dealer, 

R , I have found many uses 

Baskets for the baskets which 

he lets me have. The small grape-baskets 
I find convenient for holding clothes-pins. 
I fasten a wire around the handle, and bend 
the other end so it will loop over the clothes- 
line, and in this position it can be easily 
pushed along. The larger ones I use for 
bringing vegetables from the garden, and 
cellar. The small peach-baskets, covered 
with pretty cretonne, make nice scrap- 
baskets, for bedroom, or sitting-room. 
They are nice for mending-baskets, too, 
much better than a stocking-bag. I keep 
several in the laundry, for soiled clothing, 
one for handkerchiefs, one for stockings, 
another for collars, and so on ; it saves sort- 
ing on wash-day, which is no small item, in 
a busy household. — Mrs. L. D. C. 



To Hide the A practical way of elimi- 
Sewing Machine n ^[ n S t he unsightly 
sewing machine from the 
bedroom of your flat is the following: Make 
a dressing-table by fastening to the wall a 
board as long as your machine. Cover this 
with cretonne to match the coloring of the 
room, or lined dotted Swiss, if you prefer, 
as the latter launders. Gather or plait the 
material around the two ends and the front, 
cutting the pieces long enough to reach the 
floor. Have a piece of plate glass cut to fit 
the top of the table so as to keep it clean 
(this can be covered with the usual linen 
cloth), and hang a mirror over this table 
on the wall. The machine slides under the 
curtains in the space made for it and may 
be drawn out ready for use at any time. 



When Weary of This state of mind is 
Housework generally reached soon 
after dinner or the noon 
meal. Lie down for at least halt an hour 
in loose garments and stocking feet with 
an interesting book or magazine. Then get 
up, bathe and dress and look at the world 
through clearer eyes. Wise housekeepers 
renovate every article of furniture in their 
house when worn, and wise the woman who 
renovates herself. — Sally Lunn. 




A Cupid Apron 
for Christmas 





To Hide the 
Sewing Machine 



Zinc for Kitchen I would suggest to any 
Tables housekeeper to use zinc 

on all places in the 
kitchen where she works. For instance, a 
working-table covered with zinc, or a shelf 
put before a pleasant kitchen window where 
one can do all her dirty work, cutting of 
vegetables, meat, etc., is a great saving of 
time when one would otherwise have to get 
out a board. If you have a plate gas-stove 
on a table, have the table covered with zinc 
by all means. It is safer, and when dishing 
up one can set hot kettles from the stove on 
it.— M. M. 

The Kitchen Has the drain pipe of 
Drain your kitchen sink ever 

clogged so that the water 
did not flow off quickly? Try this simple 
method next time before you put in a call 
for the plumber. Take a sl.ort piece of 
garden hose, a piece two feet in length will 
be sufficient. Attach to the cold water 
faucet. Next remove the strainer from the 
top of the drain pipe and push the hose 
into the drain. Turn the water on and let 
it flow, slowly at first, but increase flow as 
the water is forced through the drain. The 
water may be allowed to run for half an 
hour or more so that the pipe is thoroughly 
cleaned. This method is very effective and 
in many cases will save a plumber's bill. 

To Measure the For the dress gauge 
Skirt Length pictured take a lath ten 
inches long, a piece of 
smooth board about one or one-half inches 
thick and a short hatpin. With a carpenter's 
plane smooth the lath and board and round 
one end of the lath. Then nail the other 
end of the lath upright on the board. 
Measure from the floor and mark spaces 
one-inch apart on the lath and bore holes 
to admit of a hatpin, which should just 
slip through snugly. This little article 
becomes almost indispensable in the sew- 
ing-room to measure the length of dresses. 

Economy of We obtained from a 
Space furnishing store a num- 

ber of shirt boxes, and 
in them packed things which, although not 
in frequent use, must be at hand when 
needed. We numbered the boxes with con- 
spicuously large figures, and in our cabinet 
cook-book placed cards, correspondingly 
numbered. On the cards was written a 
complete list of the contents of the boxes. 
By referring first to the cards one is able 
to locate any article. — C. W. 

To Remove Rub common brown soap 
Mildew on tne s P ot and scrape 

white chalk on it. Keep 
wet, and lay in the sun. 



32 



Little Things to Remember 



To Prevent a The difficult problem of 

Plate from Slip- placing a dish on ice in 

. the refrigerator so that 

ping on Ice j( wi „ ttg/Uy pu( .. W ; U be 

solved if one of the rubber rings used on 
fruit jars is first placed on the ice and 
the dish is placed on the rubber. — S. S. S. 

Mahogany Probably it would help 
Furniture Polish some housekeepers to 
know that an excellent 
mahogany furniture polish is made from 
equal parts of pure olive oil and warm black 
coffee. Just dampen a cheese-cloth with 
this mixture and pass over the surface 
to be polished, then wipe with an old piece 
of silk. The result will be surprising. 

A Useful Chest I have caused myself 
and others great annoy- 
ance of late by putting away things so care- 
fully that they could not be found when 
needed. I therefore have made a New 
Year's resolution to keep in the living-room 
an upholstered box, fitted with a padlock 
and key. In this I am to place all things 
that I feel called upon to put away in a 
safe place. It is still too early to judge 
of its usefulness, but I believe it may be a 
success. — Merit. 

Another Cure There are many ways of 
for Mice getting rid of mice, but 
try this. When mice 
trouble you hunt out their entrances to pan- 
try or cupboard and plaster them with a 
mixture of melted (just soft) laundry soap 
and red pepper. They will not come a sec- 
ond time. — Mrs. B. C. N. 

Uses for the Wire The wire tea-stand is 
Tea-Stand useful to place in a drip- 
ping-pan or kettle when 
roasting meat if you have no meat rack ; it 
can also be used for making toast. Use this 
convenient article also to set a pie on while 
cooling. This allows a free circulation of 
air under the pie and the crust will not be 
soggy. — Mrs. P. F. L. 

A Use for Salt Save and wash all the 

Bags '' tl ' e c ' otn togs that salt 

comes in and when you 

have squash, pumpkin, turnip, or other 

watery vegetable to cook, wash and cut up 

and put in the bag to boil. When soft you 

can squeeze all the water out, press with 

potato-masher and turn out all ready for 

ning with very little work. — Mrs. K. 

In a Dark Cellar If your cellar is dark 
and the coal shovel ba- 
the habit of eluding you, try painting it 
white and hanging it near the coal-bin. 
It can easily be seen. 




To Prevent a Plate from 
Slipping on Ice 




A Dumpling Steamer 




Brass Polishing To one quart of hot 
a Pleasure wa ter (soft if possible) 
add one dessertspoon- 
ful of oxalic acid. Put the water in a 
granite pan and have enough to cover the 
articles to be cleaned. Dip in your brass 
or copper ware for about two seconds, then 
dry immediately with a soft linen cloth. 
The result is that the tarnish has absolutely 
disappeared, the things look like new — no 
more rubbing, no dirty hands, and a morn- 
ing's work accomplished in a few minutes. 
Remember oxalic aciu is poison and 
leaves a stain on wood. — H. B. 

Meringues with After having difficulty 
a Gas Stove for years in browning 
meringues in my gas 
oven where the heat comes from below, I 
stumbled upon the following scheme, which 
is a perfect success. I place the pie or pud- 
ding under the burner of my gas plate, and 
the heat from above browns it beautifully. 
If I have no other use for the gas at the 
same time, I put the teakettle or an iron 
griddle on it, so as to turn the heat down- 
ward toward the meringue. Another un- 
expected advantage is that the dish can he 
seen from any part of the kitchen, and is 
not forgotten as it sometimes is when out 
of sight in the oven. — Mrs. C. 

To Beat Carpets An excellent device in 
or Rugs r "ff cleaning is to put an 

old (probably saggy) 
wire bed spring upon the ground and lay 
the rug or carpet to be beaten upon it. This 
will keep the rugs off the ground thus al- 
lowing the dust to go through the springs 
without settling upon the other side of the 
rug, as is the case when the article to be 
beaten is spread on the ground. — J. M. C. 



A Dumpling 
Steamer 



In a Dark Cellar 



A steamer that is inex- 
pensive, yet best for 
steaming dumplings, as 
no water can collect about the edges, is ar- 
ranged as follows: Not being satisfied with 
the results obtained by steaming dumplings 
the old-fashioned way I conceived the idea 
of using a sieve, the kind with tin sides. 
I use a cover with perforations for this. 
With this combination and a correctly pro- 
portioned recipe, dumplings fit for the most 
epicurean taste can be produced. These 
sieves can be obtained in any size and 
used over any dish or kettle they will lit. 
and they are light and easily handled. 

For Corn Meal Grease the kettle 'with 

Muoh fresh lard before putting 

in water and make a 

batter of the meal and some cold water. 

The kettle will wash easily and meal will 

not lump. 



33 



Helps with Personal Belongings 



To Prolong the When a petticoat begins 

Life of a to wear at 'he edge of 

Petticoat the hem ' tun \ in anc } 

sew a row of waved 

braid on the edge, or embroider a shallow 

scallop. — E. E. 



A Closet Full A closet filled with 
of Boxes pasteboard boxes of all 
sizes cannot fail to be 
of great benefit to the woman who wants 
a place for putting all sorts of possessions. 
Little ribbons, good tissue-paper, odds and 
ends that would be useful at holiday time 
or in planning some entertainment often be- 
come soiled and mussed because there is 
no definite place for them. With neat, 
clean boxes waiting, all such things may be 
kept free from dust until silch time as they 
are needed. Pasted labels -should be used 
on the outside of each box, and the con- 
tents of each box marked oh them. 

To Curl Ostrich An easy ' way to curl 
Plumes ostrich plumes when the 

curl is out' of plumes or 
tips is to put them in a hoUoven. Leave the 
oven door open and watch the plumes that 
they do not burn. In a short time they will 
be like new. I just put my hat in the oven 
on a paper if the plumes get damp and 
straight. This is simple and easy and 
has helped me many times. — Mrs. M. E. T. 

Inexpensive Cut a flour barrel hoop 
Dress Hangers m three parts. Cover 
each piece with a strip 
of old cotton cloth about two inches wide by 
winding it around each hoop and turning in 
the edges of the cloth to give them a neater 
finish. Then sew a piece of tape in the 
middle of each hoop long enough to hang 
it up by. — Miss M. D. B. 

A Valuable My linen and white 
Button dresses were trimmed 

Suggestion ui J. h lar S e Iine " bu ttons, 
and to avoid having 
them lost or broken when the articles were 
laundered I bought the fasteners which 
close with a snap, sewed part on the skirt 
and part on the back of button and simply 
removed the buttons whenever the garment 
was laundered. The same idea can be 
utilized with dress shields with excellent 
results. — Mrs. C. E. G. 

A Corset Wher. the stays of the 
Suggestion corset punch through at 
the top, instead of using 
goods to mend with, try covering the ends 
of these bones with pieces of old white 
kid gloves. They are easily sewed on, 
and as the edges do not have to be turned 
under make a smoother finish. The corset 
will also last longer. — N. M. H. 




A Closet Full of Boxes 





To Remove Wrinkles 
from Clothes 



Simple Garment Small brass rings can be 
Hangers bought for three cents a 

dozen and make excel- 
lent hangers for children's coats. When 
sewn on the inside band of boys' trousers 
they save many a torn buttonhole, a button- 
hole being what most boys use for a 
hanger. 

Practical Use Do not throw away 
for Old Dresses faded or outgrown house 
dresses and wrappers 
Cut off the waists, launder the skirts and 
use them to cover your good skirts in the 
closet. If one cares to take the trouble to 
boil and dip the old faded skirts into a uni- 
form shade of dye it will enhance their 
looks of course ; but I have found these 
old house dress skirts make effective skirt 
protectors just as they are. A shirring tape 
may be run through the belt and gathered 
tightly around the top of the skirt-hanger 
so as to keep out the dust. — J. A. P. 

To Keep To keep ostrich plumes 
Ostrich Plumes during the summer, place 
in a glass jar and screw 
on the top.— Mrs. E. C. M. 

For Stringing How often the string 
Beads on which beads are 

strung stretches, leaving 
unsightly gaps in the chain, or worse still 
it may break and the cherished beads go 
scattering in every direction. I have found 
a remedy for this : I string beads on a 
violin string which is made of a very tough 
substance and which can be purchased for 
the small sum of five cents. For small beads 
the E string is the most suitable. — K. S. 



Inexpensive Cuff links to harmonize 
Cuff Links vv ' tn buttons used on any 
waist can be made by 
joining two buttons with strong thread, al- 
lowing the thread to separate the buttons 
about a quarter of an inch. Bring the 
thread back and forth and then twine it 
around and around until a strong thread 
is made. This manner of making cuff links 
enables one to have a variety of effec- 
tive and pretty links that are both last- 
ing and inexpensive. — Mrs. G. F. DeL. 

To Remove To remove wrinkles 
Wrinkles from from clothes, hang the 
Clothes articles in the bathroom, 

shut the door and win- 
dows, turn on the hot water to fill the room 
with steam and leave the clothes for an 
hour or two. Dry in the open air, if pos- 
sible.— Mrs. J. E. R. 

To Renew Black To worn and white 

Kid Gloves fingers apply sweet oil 

and black ink (equal 

parts well mixed). Use a camel's-hair brush. 



34 



Little Things About the House 



For Window* When one does not 
Without Weight, have windows with 
weights, it is very con- 
venient to have small pieces of board with 
notches sawed in them. This enables one 
to raise the window to different heights 
without having to hunt for something of 
the desired size. — Miss L. M. C. 

To Keep I keep a small pail 

Wrapping Cord hanging by my kitchen 

. jt ■ table to drop wrapping 

cord into when untying 

groceries. In this way a piece of string 

is always on hand when needed. — H. F. 

To Run Rod* Housekeepers who have 
in Curtain* trouble in running a rod 
through the hem of 
sash curtains; — Cut a little finger from 
an old kid glove, slip it over the end 
of the rod, and it will run through 
smoothly. — N. T. 

For the Cut a circle of paper 

Candle*tick three inches in diameter 
and lay it over the top 
of the candlestick before putting the candle 
in. Just force paper, candle, and all into 
the stick and you will save yourself the 
trouble of digging cold candle-grease off 
the stick when you wish to put in a new 
candle. — Mrs. G. N. A. 

To Reach High I have wooden boxes to 
Shelve* stand upon when I need 

to reach the high shelves 
in closets. I find them a great addition to 
my house, and it saves the moving of chairs. 
They may be bought at a grocery store, 
stained to match the woodwork and fitted 
with casters. A hinged cover makes the 
box a useful receptacle for shoes. — M. F. B. 

A Use for Old broomstitcks are 
Broomstick* often thrown away with 
the broom, but I have 
found three good uses for them. The 
handles make good stout clothes sticks to be 
used in lifting the clothes from the boiler; 
varnished nicely they make good portiere 
poles where only a short one is required ; 
and lastly make a cap of some strong, soft 
material, draw it over an old broom and 
use it in sweeping hardwood floors. — J. H. 

Made from Many nice things such 
Starch Boxes a s trays, boxes, plaques, 
etc., may be made at 
home from the common five-pound starch 
boxes. I make many gifts from them each 
year, using my pyrography set and drawing 
my own designs. The wood is almost as 
nice to burn as basswood. — Mrs. E. W. D. 




To Keep Wrapping 
Cord at Hand 




To Save the 
Umbrella Stand 




Keeping Scissor* Handy 



A Handy Place Having no handy place 
for Tool* f° r small tools and use- 
ful household utensils I 
had the lower step of the back stairs made 
into a box, the top of the step was hinged 
to lift up. Now my tools are always out of 
sight, yet I always know where to find 
them.— Mrs. C. E. 

Individual After spilling a cup of 
Tray* coffee into my lap, and 

ruining my best gown, at 
our club, I decided that I would never run 
the risk of having that happen to anybody 
when I entertained. I therefore bought 
stamped tin trays by the dozen, and serve 
the plate and cup to each person on a tray. 
The price is only fifty-five cents a dozen, 
and no one knows till she has tried them 
what a comfort they are. Men are espe- 
cially delighted to have a place to set their 
cups. — "Merit." 

Saving Step* Busy housewives, save 
yourselves many steps, by 
having, upstairs and down, a market basket. 
As articles collect on either floor that be- 
long on the other,',lay them in the basket 
and carry them all-in one trip. In the same 
way have two slates, one in your bedroom 
and one in the kitchen, with a pencil fas- 
tened to each. If necessities are jotted 
down as thought of, fewer articles will be 
forgotten in making the shopping or mar- 
keting lists. 

To Save the Place a large sponge in 

Umbrella Stand the bottom of a china 

umbrella-jar and you 

will avoid striking the 

bottom and breaking it. The sponge will 

also absorb the water from an umbrella, 

and may afterwards be wrung easily 

out.— G. E. N. 

A Protection to Housekeepers will find 
the Kitchen an old magazine very 
Table convenient on the kitch- 

en table. On it set pots, 
pans, skillets, etc., that are necessarily 
somewhat black on the bottom. By tearing 
off a leaf or two of paper as they become 
soiled the magazine will last quite a while 
and save the labor of cleaning the 
table.— N. R. F. 

Keeping Sciscor* A colored ribbon tied to 
Handy scissors will save many 

minutes that are 6ther- 
wise spent in looking for them, especially 
if they are used by children who forget 
where they have left them. A piece of rib- 
bon is always sure to show, where scissors 
are half hidden under papers or sewing. 



35 



Helps in the Sick Room 



Contents of the Have tacked to the in- 
Medicine side door of your medi- 

Cabinet c ' ne cabinet an alphabet- 

ically arranged list of all 
drugs on hand. When a bottle or box is 
emptied have it replaced, ready for emer- 
gencies. — Mrs. J. M. S. 

For Tired Feet The following help is 
used by nurses in some 
of the leading hospitals. Add a tablespoon- 
ful of baking soda to a pint of common 
bran and put in a basin, dampening with 
sufficient warm water to form a thin paste. 
Immerse the feet in this for ten or fifteen 
minutes, and great relief will be felt and 
the danger of blistering eradicated. — B. A. J. 

Pouring When pouring medicine 

Medicine from a bottle always 

pour from the opposite 
side from the label. Directions may be ob- 
literated through careless pouring and mis- 
takes may occur. — F. L. N. 

To Extract a When a splinter has 
Splinter been driven deep into 

the hand it can be ex- 
tracted without pain by steam. Nearly fill 
a wide-mouth bottle with hot water, place 
the injured part over the mouth of the bot- 
tle and press lightly. The suction will draw 
the flesh down and in a minute or two the 
steam will extract the splinter and inflam- 
mation. — Mrs. C. O. H. 

A Cover for From pasteboard make 
the Tray a cover to fit the tray. 
The sides can be long 
strips of pasteboard sewed fast to the top 
cover, and should be at least six or eight 
inches high. Line with white linen or mus- 
lin, and cover the outside with figured 
lawn or silkoline over fine cotton-batting. 
A curtain ring may be sewed on the top 
to serve as a handle for lifting. This will 
keep the food hot while the tray is being 
carried to the sick-room. — M. R. 

To Amuse a In giving my little girl 
Sick Child her nourishment she 
cried to get up and sit 
in her arm-chair at the table. This was im- 
possible, but I did not want her to fret. 
I had a discarded high-chair in the attic. 
I brought it down, sawed off the legs, spread 
a small blanket over back and arms, and 
put a little pillow in the seat. This chair 
we put right in the bed and the child was 
delighted. She would even take her medi- 
cine better, changing her position rested 
her, and I could persuade her to eat more 
at a time. She could have a few toys on 
the tray for a little while so the impro- 
vised bed rest served many purposes. — A. 




Contents of Medicine 
Cabinet 







An Emergency Table for 
the Sick Room 




Sunshine Bag It is hard to find any- 

for Invalid tnin g that wil1 S' ve as 
much pleasure to an in- 
valid or shut-in as a sunshine bag. Make 
a bag of cretonne or other bright mate- 
rial, which may afterwards be used as a 
handkerchief bag or small laundry bag and 
fill it with a number of little gifts prepared 
by different friends. Tie the packages with 
bright colored ribbons and leave one end 
of each ribbon about half or three-quarters 
of a yard long, so that it will hang out of 
the bag. Each day one ribbon is to be 
pulled and the gift at the bottom opened. 
Try to have at least thirty, so that the 
bag will last a month. Aside from the 
pleasure of receiving the gifts the excite- 
ment of having this little treat each day 
for a month is a welcome break in a monot- 
onous life. — M. D. M. 

To Freshen Air Dip a sheet in a pail of 
in Sick-room water to which has been 
added a small amount of 
ammonia or listerine. Wring out until al- 
most dry, then hang in front of an open 
window where there is a gentle breeze. 

An Emergency An emergency table in a 
Table sick-room can easily be 

managed where there is 
a machine that has a drop-head. Open the 
machine and push the leaf over the bed. 
A square or rubber cloth under a white 
cover will protect the wood, and make it 
attractive. — E. D. A. 

To Save Black If when children fall 

and Blue Spots and a lump appears, 

one applies a paste made 

of ordinary baking soda and water there 

will be no discoloration. — Mrs. W. N. 

Hot Cloths When hot cloths are 
for Sickness needed for medical pur- 
poses, heat them in a 
steam cooker or double boiler. — M. 



For Scalds and Pare and scrape 
Burns potato and apply 



For the Delicate Child 



raw 
di- 
rectly to scald or burn. 
It will afford almost instant relief and the 
affected part will quickly heal. — B. E. M. 

For the Delicate A small boy who thought 
Child be could not drink milk 

was persuaded to change 
his views when his mother thought of sup- 
plying him with straws purchased at a 
soda fountain. 

For an Invalid A gift for an invalid 
that proved a great suc- 
cess was a hand magnifying glass and some 
prints of paintings by famous artists. 



36 



Helps in the Bedroom 



Knocker* A recent fad which has 
the merit of real utility- 
is the use of tiny knockers on the doors 
of bedrooms and other rooms in private 
houses. A charming little knocker picked 
up recently in a London antique shop and 
brought home for a young girl's bedroom 
door is a tiny brass cupid. The figure is 
about four inches long, beautifully 
modeled. One chubby knee is drawn up 
and forms the handle of the knocker which 
is hinged to an oval brass plate with screw 
holes for the fastening. A small brass 
anchor is used on a door of the library in 
a seaside bungalow. Individuality can be 
thus shown in the choice of knockers, and 
for this reason they are popular as gifts. 
In a large family they are to be further 
recommended upon the ground of 
privacy. — M. S. 

Closet Room If short of closet room, 

place hooks on the back 

of the headboard of a wooden bed. Many 

things can be hung there out of sight. 

Place the bed across a corner. — T. 

Jars for Any one once using 

Dressing Tablet china jars with lids to 
replace the old - time 
"catch-alls" and "hair-receivers" on their 
dressing-tables will acknowledge their su- 
periority. They are entirely practical and 
sanitary, and can be bought at the ten-cent 
stores (under the guise of cracker-jars 
and sugar-bowls), or they may be as costly 
as the purse allows. I have two pairs on my 
dressing-table. One I use for hair comb- 
ings, the other for small belongings, hand- 
kerchiefs, jabots, ties, etc., awaiting laun- 
dering. Two smaller ones I use for 
wire hairpins and odds and ends of 
jewelry. — Mrs. A. A. S. 

A New Idea for The washable colored 
the Bedroom cotton table-covers (not 
cloths) used so much in 
country homes make excellent counter- 
panes for all-year use for boys' beds. They 
come in many combinations of color so 
will match any ordinary color scheme, are 
cheaper than the fancy colored counter- 
panes and not so heavy to launder. 

A Door Closet Where room is scarce 
and closets few I have 
purchased brackets for ten cents and put 
them on the back of a door with a medium 
shelf attached. Put hangers from the top 
of shelf and then make a curtain and at- 
tach it with hooks and there is a handy 
clothes-closet with the use of the door re- 
tained. I have also put a long low box 
on the bottom of the same door with brack- 
ets purchased for five cents, and used the 
box for shoes. — C. W. 




Jars for Dressing 
Table Use 




A Bar for the Clothes 
Closet 




A Door Closet 



Dainty Bureau Much is gained if in- 
Drawers stead of making linings or 

pads for the bureau draw- 
ers, the drawers themselves are made dainty. 
I first give the inside as many coats of white 
paint as is necessary to give a clear white 
tone, and then a coat of white enamel. 
This gives a perfectly smooth surface, 
which is fresher than any other lining could 
be. The drawers look neat and attractive, 
and when cleaning is desired a simple wip- 
ing with a damp cloth produces a perfect 
cleanliness. I have carried out the same 
idea with all the shelves, cupboards, and 
drawers in the house, whether for linen, 
china, or kitchen utensils, and find them 
more easily cared for than when arranged 
with other covers. This really makes a 
good substitute for the highly recom- 
mended glass shelves. — Mrs. C. B. 

To Keep the Try keeping the chil- 

Closet Floor dren's shoes together in 

N eat pairs by the use of 

clothes-pins. This will 

relieve the mother and the owners of the 

shoes of constant sorting, and will keep 

the closet floor from getting disorderly. 

A Bar for the Instead of using a 
Clothes Closet hroomstick in your 
clothes-closet to suspend 
extra coat and skirt hangers, try a nickel 
liar towel-rack with screws at each end. 
One can be bought for ten cents, screws 
and all, and looks very neat. Mine is placed 
on the under-side of a shelf, is screwed 
to the bottom of it and gives great satis- 
faction. — E. S. 

My Home-made When one has a bedroom 
Closet without a clothes-closet 

a very satisfactory sub- 
stitute may be made with two shelves the 
same size, about twelve inches wide and as 
long as desired. One should be placed just 
at the top of the baseboard, the other about 
fifty inches above it. A narrow board to 
hold the hooks should be fastened to the 
lower side of the upper shelf where it comes 
against the wall. Hooks can also be screwed 
to the underside of this shelf, utilizing all 
the space. Finish with two curtains which 
meet in the centre and slide on a rod at 
both top and bottom. If the curtain must 
continue around the end of the shelves that 
part can be tacked as there is no need to 
open it there. 

If desired a third shelf may be placed 
about a foot above the upper one and 
finished with a short curtain. This makes 
a good place to keep hats, etc., while the 
lower shelf, which forms the bottom of the 
clothes-closet and which is really designed 
to keep out dust, makes a convenient place 
for shoes. — Mrs. A. H. 



37 



Helps with Children 



A Help for the To quickly dry a mat- 
Nursery tress which has been 
wet, and this often hap- 
pens where there are children in spite of 
the utmost precautions, I fill a hot-water 
bag with very hot water and lay over the 
wet place, moving or refilling if necessary. 
Results are quick and very satis- 
factory. — Mrs. M. P. 

For Soap When children wish to 
Bubbles blow bubbles and have 

no clay pipes an empty 
spool is a good substitute. — D. H. 

Home-made One yard of heavy un- 

Books for bleached domestic will 

Children make a large book. Cut 

into leaves the desired 

size. Hem raw edges and sew together in 

the middle. For small children paste in 

pictures of animals, children, farmyard 

scenes, etc. Larger children find scenes of 

any one country or nation interesting and 

instructive. — Mrs. J. E. D. 

For the Try filling a few small 

Children wine-glasses with jelly. 

You will have something 
dainty to serve at luncheon and a delicacy 
that simply delights the children. They are 
pleased to have a little glass of jelly all their 
own, made especially for them. Even older 
children delight to take these to their sick 
friends.— Mrs. E. C. B. 

Care of Baby's Many people complain 
Bottle that they cannot turn the 

nipple of the baby's bot- 
tle inside out for cleansing purposes with- 
out tearing it. I have found this method 
easy and entirely successful. Take the rub- 
ber end of a lead pencil and press in the 
small end of the nipple, then draw the 
larger end down over the pencil and the 
nipple is turned in a second. A well-rounded 
stick may be used instead of a pencil, and 
is, of course, more sanitary. — C. K. S. 

Mid-Morning My children are allowed 
Lunches a simple lunch at 10 

a. m. and 3 p. m., and I 
find it a great economy of time, materials, 
labor, and patience to prepare the bread 
and butter sandwiches before leaving the 
breakfast or lunch table, while the mate- 
rials are at hand, thus often utilizing 
broken bits of bread and dabs of jam left 
from the meal. What a comfort later 
not to be obliged to leave my work to wait 
on the children, as the lunch is wrapped 
in waxed paper and put where they can 
get it themselves when I give permission. 
As it is thoroughly understood this is all 
they can have, much teasing is saved both 
parties. — J. D. 




Plan to Secure 
Children's Help 




For the Children 




Mid- Morning Lunches 



38 



Plan to Secure Children often neglect to 
Children's Help perform the duties that 
are assigned them, and to 
secure their undivided interest in their work 
I have tried the following plan with very 
gratifying success. I have two slates in the 
kitchen, and each morning I write on each 
slate the work that I shall expect each one 
to do. When a task is completed it may be 
crossed off, and when the slate is clean it 
is understood that playtime has arrived. I 
find the children like this idea, it saves 
disputes, arranges their work to good ad- 
vantage, and they try to see which will have 
the first clean slate. — Mrs. G. P. K. 

The Joy of When rainy times come 
Variety and the children are kept 

indoors they tire of their 
playthings. I accidentally lose some of the 
toys. The next rainy day that comes I 
put them where they "just happen" to find 
them. They seem like new toys, and the 
last used pleasures disappear in the same 
way. By playing this losing and finding 
game without the children's knowledge they 
do not tire of their things as soon. Is 
not the same true of grown-ups with 
articles of food and with the pretty things 
around the house? The joy of variety and 
the refreshment of change is a possibility 
of improvement for every housekeeper. 

A Children's A friend who had to eke 
Club out a small income and 

was not able to be away 
from home on account of leaving her aged 
mother, hit upon the plan of forming a 
children's club, ages five to twelve, meet- 
ing every Saturday from 1.30 to 5.30, dues 
two dimes. The parents were delighted to 
have the children in safe, experienced hands 
every Saturday afternoon, the children en- 
joyed the games she played with them, the 
resurrected toys which transformed the 
living-room into a club-room, and the 
cookies provided by "Grandma." My friend 
made $100 the first year with practically no 
expense to herself. — M. A. De F. 

To Keep Chil- To keep children's hair 
dren's Hair ribbons from mussing 

R : ui m..i. cut a piece of cardboard 
iDbons neat • • i_ 1 j r 

six inches long and four 

inches wide. Roll the ribbons on this every 
night after removing them from the hair. 
This will save frequent pressing. Card- 
board foundations such as described may 
be covered with silk and would make excel- 
lent gifts for the young girls of one's 
acquaintance. — H. Y. 

In the Nursery The baby's diapers can be 
folded cornerwise ready 
for use instead of folded in squares. I 
find this a great help. — J. A. G. 



Helps with Shoes and Stockings 



Last Summer's When tan shoes are left 
Tan Shoes over, and are out of sea- 
son, buy a bottle of shoe 
dye (not blacking) and transform the tan 
shoes into new black ones. New black but- 
tons must be put on, as the tan buttons 
do not stay dyed. One coat of dye on the 
shoes is all that is necessary. A cobbler 
will do this, but he will charge as much 
for one pair as your bottle of dye (large 
enough for several pairs), will cost. 
Ordinary polishing will keep the shoes in 
good condition as long as they wear. 

To Make Cut from the side of an 
Rubbers Wear °|d rubber or a heavy 
piece of broadcloth a 
piece the shape and a little larger than the 
heel, and paste inside. One will find that 
the shoe cuts through the piece pasted into 
the rubber and the rubber is thus saved. I 
have worn out two or three inside pieces 
of rubber to a single pair of rubbers.— J. 

Shoe Lacing When the tips of shoe- 
Tip, laces pull off, twist the 
ends of the strings and 
dip into the glue bottle. When dry they 
are as good, or better, than they were when 
new.— E. D. P. 

Rubbers that The mother of two 
Wear sturdy little girls less- 

ened the cost of rub- 
bers considerably last winter by purchasing 
the heavy rolled-edge boys' rubbers for her 
small daughters. She found that boys' rub- 
bers wore about three times as long as the 
heaviest rubbers manufactured for girls' 
wear, and cost but little more. — Mrs. C. W. 

Fastening Hose I have a useful hint for 
Supporters tne mother who uses for 
her children the hose- 
supporters which pin to a body. Reen force 
the body as usual at the place where the 
supporter is to be pinned, then sew very 
firmly, about three-quarters of an inch 
apart and with heads toward each other, 
two round eyes, and run the pin of the sup- 
porter through these eyes, so that the pull 
will be on the eyes instead of on the 
material. — B. L. S. 

For the Family A good way to keep over- 
Overshoes shoes off the floor is to 
have a strong tape hung 
up in a convenient place with spring clothes- 
pins attached. Pin the youngest child's rub- 
bers on the bottom pin, next youngest just 
above, etc. There should be a pin for every 
member of the family. The hall closet is 
a good place to have this useful device. By 
this plan one is able to get one's rubbew in 
the dark without making a mistake. — J. K. B. 




For Children 's Rubbers 




Pretty Shoe* to Match 
Gowns 




For Family Overshoes 



A Stocking Always wash stockings 
Help before wearing and holes 

will not appear in them 
so quickly. — M. A. F. 

Shapely Shoes This is a satisfactory 
and inexpensive sub- 
stitute for shoe trees. Crowd cotton into 
the toes of shoes when you take them off, 
while they are warm from contact with the 
feet, and all wrinkles and creases will dis- 
appear. At the same time rub them with a 
little vaseline, using a soft cloth, and they 
will be bright, clean, and pliable as well as 
shapely. — Gazelle S. 

For Children's When putting on chil- 
Rubbers dren's rubbers, to save 

time and fingers, use a 
slipper horn. — Mrs. W. L. T. 

Pretty Shoes to Shoes of delicate colors 
Match Gowns are hard to find and 
always expensive. At 
one time I wanted a pair of light gray shoes, 
and this is how I managed. A pair of 
white canvas shoes which were somewhat 
soiled, I first scrubbed with good white 
soap and water, using a small brush, then 
drying them in the sunshine. I mixed a 
little black and white oil paint until I got 
the desired shade of gray. This I mixed in 
a cup half full of the turpentine. Very little 
of the paint is needed — just enough to color 
the canvas. Brush the liquid over the shoes 
with a small paint-brush, and you will be 
surprised to find how nice they look. They 
dry with no streaks. Match them in ribbon 
for ties. Of course, any color may be made 
to match any gown. — Miss N. B. 

Overshoes not If mothers will oil the 

Needed soles of children's shoes 

about twice a month with 

vaseline (not too much), they will find 

overshoes will not be needed to keep out 

the dampness — A. R. M. 

For Tired Feet Pasting a piece of heavy 
cloth or felt on the heels 
of my house shoes I find a good substitute 
for rubber heels. — M. L. M. 

To Clean My shoe dealer told me 
White Shoes nothing was more satis- 
factory for white kid 
shoes than a common rubber eraser. I 
found "art" rubber even better. I also clean 
gloves, both white and colored, with the 
rubber.— M. L. W. 

In Washing To keep black stockings 
Black Stockings irom turning brown use 
plenty of bluing water. — 
A. W. 



39 



Toilet Helps 



To Clean the Dissolve a tablespoonful 
Comb and Brush of baking soda in a 
basin of water. Let 
the comb remain in the solution while 
washing the brush. Shake the bristles of 
the brush in the water until all dirt is re- 
moved. Do not wet brush handle and back 
more than is necessary. Rinse in clear 
cold water. — M. 

To Clean a When a sponge smells 

Sponge sour rub the juice of a 

fresh lemon through it 

thoroughly, then rinse in lukewarm water 

several times. It will become as sweet as 

when new. — G. H. 

Baking Soda The regular use of com- 
for Bathing mon baking soda in the 
bath will be found an 
efficacious remedy for disagreeable perspira- 
tion odors. Slightly moisten a small 
quantity of soda in the palm of the hand 
and apply to the parts affected as one would 
use soap. Allow the soda to remain several 
moments, then wash off as in the case of 
soap.— Mrs. Wm. R. T. 

Violet Sachet The pure and undiluted 
scent of violets can be 
obtained in the following way : Secure the 
blooms. They must be fresh and perfectly 
dry — March blown violets are the most 
fragrant. Remove stems and place in a 
•fruit jar; pour over an equal quantity of 
corn meal, one-third violets, one-third meal 
and the remaining space empty. Shake 
loosely together and screw on lid. Set in a 
cool place, shaking the contents a little every 
day, allowing fresh air to enter the jar by 
removing cover for a few seconds each 
time. When the flowers turn brown, the 
work is complete, and meal and blooms are 
ready to pack into sachet bags. Corn meal 
is a powerful absorbent of odors, and will 
retain perfume for years, if kept dry. — R. R. 

A Handy A receptacle for soiled 
Hamper clothes may be made 

very easily from a piece 
of straw matting — one yard wide and one 
and two-thirds or almost two yards long. 
Sew together with strong twine. Make 
the bottom of the basket and the cover 
from a piece of matting cut round and bound 
with a strip of denim or strong cloth to keep 
it from fraying. The height of the basket 
is the width of the matting and so the basket 
itself will not need binding. Strengthen 
with three barrel hoops, placed at the top, 
centre, and bottom, and tacked to the mat- 
ting by brass-headed tacks. Use a larger 
hoop for edging the cover, which is fastened 
to it by strong twine. Sew a handle on the 
cover and on each side to lift it by. 




To Clean the Comb 
and Brush 




Individual Towel Racks 



3D 

ro 


1 



Bag 



A Handy Hamper 



Toilet Soap When the cake of toilet 
soap is worn nearly thin 
enough to break, adhere to the new cake 
by first immersing both in quite warm 
water, then press firmly together. When 
cold it will be one solid cake. Do the same 
with laundry soap. This does away with 
small pieces of soap and there is no waste. 

Complexion Take some cheese-cloth 

Wash Ragi an d make as many bags 

as you wish. Fill each 

one over half full of oatmeal and scraped 

Castile soap. These last only about three 

or four days. — Mrs. B. 

To Remove When the hands have an 

Unpleasant unpleasant odor from 

Odors onions, fish, or cod liver 

oil, etc., rub and wash 

the hands in mustard water made in the 

usual way but with more water. This is 

excellent. — Mrs. H. S. 

A New Use for During excessive heat 
the Hot- Water 1 found a new use for my 

hot-water bags. I filled 
them each night with ice 
water and laid one at the foot of my bed 
and the other at the head. They helped 
to lower the temperature of my body and 
induce sleep. — Mrs. J. M. 

Individual A sure way to avoid 
Towel Racks towel troubles is to have 
an individual towel-rack 
in every bedroom. This may be accom- 
plished very cheaply by putting a short sash 
curtain rod on the back of the bedroom 
door, and supplying a fresh towel for this 
rack each day. — E. D. M. 

To Stop Hair Wash the hair in just 
Falling Out as hot water as it is pos- 
sible for the person to 
endure, then take the scalp and gently pinch 
all over. This is excellent. — L. M. P. 

A Good Towel A good towel rack can 
Rack De made from a roller 

of a discarded window 
blind by removing the metal part from one 
end, sawing the roller the required length, 
replacing the end piece and nailing the 
other fixtures on the wall. Paint or enamel 
the rack and you have one as good as you 
could buy.— Mrs. D. H. F. 

To Prevent To prevent stove polish 

Polish Sticking sticking to the hands 

to the Hand. *"«» Polishing a stove, 

first rub the hands 

thoroughly with soap and allow it to dry. 

The polish will then wash off without any 

trouble.— R. E. D. 



40 



When Thinking of Others 



The Gift Drawer The gift drawer began 
as a Christmas aid, but 
is now a year-round institution of great 
value. Into it go all pretty boxes, pieces 
of baby ribbon, good tissue paper, and small 
articles that do not fit into any particular 
place in our home. Suggestions read in 
newspapers are clipped, put in an envelope 
marked "hints," also a note of the page in 
a magazine or book too valuable to mutilate, 
so that reference may be ready when 
required. Into this drawer go also all pretty 
scraps that might be suited for construct- 
ing small gifts, and many a little trifle picked 
up when the "gift drawer" is in mind, also, 
of course, finished bits of handiwork. There 
is always something in the "gift drawer" 
for birthdays and special occasions, and 
when Christmas comes around again its aid 
is invaluable. — Mrs. H. G 

Our Bulletin In the hall under the 
Board telephone, stands a small 

table which we call the 
"Bulletin Board." Upon it goes the mail 
that comes for every member of the family 
absent when the postman calls. Here we 
keep a pad of paper and a pencil, the latter 
tied to the table and never taken from it. 
This receives telephone messages for any 
absent member of the family, lists of 
groceries to be taken to the store or tele- 
phoned there, and any memorandum apt 
to be forgotten when "some one goes down 
town." The bulletin board also receives 
cards of callers, both social and business, 
and circulars likely to be of interest to 
anybody are left there for a day. — H. K. O. 

A Time Saver for I lere is a simple device 
the Mother Let- t>>' which the busy mother 



ter Writer 



can write half a dozen 



letters to children away 
from the family nest, and do it in half an 
hour, too ! Get typewriting paper and sheets 
of the duplicating carbon paper used in 
typewriting. Suppose there are four letters 
to write. Take four sheets of paper and 
between them, with the shiny face down, 
place three sheets of carbon paper. On top 
of these write heavily to make the deep 
imprint, then pull the sheets apart and the 
letters are ready to send off. When the fam- 
ily news has been retailed in this way the 
personal heading and a word of cheering 
individual love and advice is added to each 
as a postscript, and the newsy personal let- 
ters are ready for all the flock in the time 
it would take to write one. — E. M. B. 

A Beneficial A decided "Help for 

Cluh Housekeepers" is a Town 

and Country Club, which 

can be formed by the ladies of any small 

suburban town and those of a nearby 

In these days of trolley cars, transportation 




The Gift Drawer 




Our Bulletin Board 




Housekeeping Calendar 



is easy, and while the object of the club may 
be charitable, educational or literary it 
should have a brief time for "Experiences." 
These are frank accounts and information 
concerning both city and rural life, for both 
types of humanity have much to learn from 
each other. The city woman can tell the 
country woman any number of interesting 
facts about shopping; where to get certain 
things, how to buy to advantage, etc., while 
the city woman has much to learn from the 
country woman regarding birds and flowers, 
gardening, cooking of many old-fashioned 
delicacies that are not in recipe books, etc. 
The country woman needs to have her city 
sister's example in little matters of speech 
and dress, while the country woman can 
teach a wholesome lesson of simplicity and 
directions for general healthful living. — S. 

Fair Exchange Some years ago I had a 
navy blue chiffon broad- 
cloth suit in excellent condition, and still 
in good style, although it had done duty for 
two seasons. One day the idea occurred to 
me to try and exchange it for something 
that I needed, so I published an advertise- 
ment in another city, describing the suit and 
offering to exchange it for fancy needle- 
work. Several replies resulted, and I wrote 
to a woman who lived on an isolated ranch, 
and had a husband who thought women 
needed neither money nor good clothes. I 
sent her the suit, and she embroidered some 
exquisite lunch-cloths in exchange, I fur- 
nishing the materials. Since then I send 
her all of my discarded garments and hats, 
and never have to buy linens for Christmas 
or wedding gifts. — Mrs. C. A. S. 

Correspondence I have a number of 
Help friends with whom I 

keep up a regular cor- 
respondence, and I have found that it 
simplifies the task greatly to keep envelopes 
addressed to them in a convenient place. 
Into these I slip newspaper cuttings, notes 
of things which interest that particular cor- 
respondent and memoranda of various sub- 
jects to be written of. — E. C. A. 

Housekeeping A calendar arranged ac- 
Calendar cording to individual 

preferences with spaces 
for jotting down details about purchases, 
prices for staple articles during the month, 
and other interesting facts, would soon be 
found a help when compared month by 
month and year by year. Made with 
ornamental covers, such a calendar could 
be decorative enough for a gift. — Ex. 

An After-Holiday It is a wise plan to make 
Expedient a l' st °f friends remem- 
bered and one's particu- 
lar gift to each, when the holidays have 
come and gone ; to avoid duplicating. 



41 



Helps when Shopping and Traveling 



Quick As it is a matter of sur- 

Shopping Prise to some of my 
friends how I accomplish 
so much shopping in the limited time be- 
tween trains, perhaps my plan may help 
some one else. In the first place, I keep a 
handy pad and pencil on my desk, on which 
I write everything that is needed when the 
want occurs. Before I go shopping I copy 
from this list the things I intend to buy or 
investigate that day, grouping them accord- 
ing to kind, — as drugs, dry-goods, etc., and 
arranging them according to the stores I 
am likely to visit. When I leave the train 
I go directly to the farthest place and make 
my purchases along the route back, thus 
being as long as possible without parcels 
and saving return trips. If I wish to go 
afterwards to the club or to make calls I 
leave my shopping-bag at some convenient 
place, thus saving my strength. — E. G. H. 

When Any one who travels 

Traveling much will find it better 
to pack as much as pos- 
sible in pasteboard boxes which fit the trunk 
well. Thin starched pieces which muss so 
easily are kept from wrinkling in this way. 
If the boxes are labeled "Waists," "Skirts," 
"Fancy-work," etc., it "will save opening the 
wrong boxes when one is hurried. 

A Help for I pack my large sailor 
Summer Packing a "d dressy lace collars 
by the following device, 
without folding, and they are ready for use 
at the end of a journey. I have two large 
pieces of pasteboard, the dimensions of the 
largest collar. These may be covered with 
fancy silk or cretonne and the bottom cover 
should have ribbons attached for tying 
securely. Within these place the collars flat 
and completely open. One of these collar- 
holders makes an excellent gift, and is not 
only practical but attractive if covered with 
some dainty material. — Mrs. G. R. L. 

Little Help in A nice way to keep col- 
Traveling ' ars > jabots, ribbons, and 
such things smooth when 
packing in a suit-case, is to put them between 
the different leaves of a magazine. This 
takes up less room than a box in a suit-case, 
and is very convenient when removed to 
the dresser-drawer, as it keeps these small 
articles smooth and nice. — N. M. 

A Use for Old Do not throw away the 
Spools spools when empty, keep 

them until you go away 
next summer, and use them to slip over the 
nails or cheap hooks found in many cottage 
closets. This will save many a waist and 
gown. — Mrs. A. McA. 




>*PT" r 



A Help for Summer 
Packing 




Emergency Dress 
Hangers 




A Safety Device for the 
Locked Door 



A Help When When household goods 
Moving are to be packed for 

moving or storage, it 
will be the greatest convenience if the box 
(or barrels) are numbered and a list taken 
of the articles as they are put in boxes or 
barrels, the number of the box or barrel put 
on the list.— H. L. 

To Travelers On a trip South, a friend 

suggested that I pin my 

dress to the curtain of 

the berth with safety-pins. I did so, and 

in the morning there was not a wrinkle to 

be seen. — Mrs. L. R. C. 

A Child's When away from home 

High Chair an d there is no high chair 

available for a child, take 

four door protectors and 

screw on the bottom of the four legs of 

an ordinary dining-room chair. This raises 

it a good bit. The protectors can be easily 

removed without marring the furniture. 

Emergency When visiting sometimes, 
Dress Hangers ° r when on a journey 
where one cannot carry 
all they wish, inconvenience may be experi- 
enced because of an inadequate number of 
dress-hangers in the closets. Try a news- 
paper rolled and tied in the middle with a 
string. Turn the ends down and you have 
a hanger just as good for a light-weight 
dress, and one which will keep it free from 
wrinkles. — M. H. 

A Bed for Baby A unique and comfort- 
While Traveling ab, « Ded f°«" baby while 
traveling may be made 
of a Japanese straw telescope traveling-case. 
Line the bottom piece as prettily as you 
please and tack a little flounce all around 
the edge of the top, letting it hang over the 
outside. This flounce may be folded back 
in the case when the cover is put on, or may 
be dispensed with entirely if desired. Put 
a little mattress and tiny pillow in, or simply 
a good sized pillow for a mattress, and 
some coverings, and baby will have a very 
comfortable little bed. When he is wide- 
awake all his belongings may be carried in 
the case, the cover being strapped on. When 
baby is occupying the wee cot all the cloth- 
ing, etc., may be placed in the cover. This 
convenience helps both mother and child. 

A Safety Device If one is nervous about 
for the strange doors when 

Locked Door away from home take a 
heavy piece of wire, bend 
double, hang on the door-knob and slip 
the ends through the key. The key can- 
not then be turned or pushed out of the 
keyhole. — Mrs. I. H. 



42 



The Everyday Housekeeper's 

SCRAP BOOK 

These four blank pages constitute a little Scrap Book in which you can paste 
any additional " Helps " you may wish to save. 



LAUNDRY WORK 



CLEANING AND DYEING 



43 



HELPS IN COOKING 



KITCHEN ECONOMIES 



CARE OF PLANTS 



IN THE SICK ROOM 



45 



MISCELLANEOUS 



THINGS WORTH KNOWING 



46 



The First Book 
of the 
Everyday 
Housekeeping 
Series 




For 

Everyday 

Housekeepers 



PRISCILLA PUBLISHING COMPANY. BOSTON 



Price only 
25c 

Postage Paid 



The Priscilla Cook Book is thoroughly practical. It is designed to give 
simple, wholesome, full-flavored dishes that will add to the pleasure of every meal. 
Not only will the recipes selected provide dishes that are dainty and appetizing, but the 
foods suggested are body and brain builders as well. 

For convenience, the recipes have been arranged in 40 groups, each group representing a 
different branch of the art of cooking ; besides which, various combinations of dishes are suggested in 
the form of well balanced menus for breakfasts, luncheons, dinners and special occasions. Whenever 
Fish and Meat Sauces, Salad Dressings, Pudding Sauces, Frostings and Fillings are called for, full 
directions for making are given. 



The 40 groups of recipes are headed as follows: 



Soapi 

Bread Making 

Rolls and Muffins 

Flan 

Sbell Fish 

Flab and Meat Sauces 

Meat 

Cheaper Cuts of Meat 

Meat Substitutes 

From Leftovers 

Poultry 

Vegetables 

Potatoes 

Ways with Eggs 

Omelets 

Fish and Meat Salads 

Fruit and Vegetable Salads 

Salad Dressings 

Cheese Dishes 

Uses for Stale Bread 



Uses for Sour Milk 

Layer and Loaf Cake 

Small Fancy Cakes 

Fillings and Frostings 

Cookies and Wafers 

Rot Puddings 

Pudding Sauces 

Cold Desserts 

Pies 

Pastry Desserts 

Sandwiches 

Beverages 

With the Chafing Dish 

Candy Making 

Sick-Boom Cookery 

School Lunch 

Canning and Preserving 

Pickles 

Jams and Jellies 

Frozen Desserts 



There are 442 recipes altogether. There are also fou 
menus, prepared for the different seasons and for the 
special occasions which rome up during the year. 



Fannie Merritt Farmer, the Editor of the 
Priscilla Cook Book was perhaps the most 
famous culinary expert and writer in the country. 
She was the author of the Boston Cooking School 
Cook Book and was for many years head of the 
School of Cookery which bears her name. For 
many years also Miss Farmer conducted the 
Cooking Department in The Modern Priscilla. 

No matter how many other cook books you 
own, you will find the Priscilla Cook Book 
a little different from any of the others, and in 
many respects the best book of the kind you 
have ever seen. It measures 7H x 10J4 inches 
and is finely printed on a rugged paper which 
will bear hard usage in your kitchen. 



Priscilla Publishing Company, Boston, Mass. 



HEEL? C0NG ««s 




014 180 sg 1 




The Most 
Helpful 
Magazine 
For Women 

There are many mag- 
azines devoted to 
stories, many others 
filled with miscellane- 
ous matter of more or 
less value and general 
interest; but there is 
just one magazine that 
specializes in the two 
subjects most closely 
associated with the 
average woman's daily 
life— "Fancy- Work" 
and "Housekeeping" 
— with just enough 
clever, wholesome fic- 
tion added to give 
zest. That magazine is 

The Modern Priscilla. 



WHAT " FANCY.WORK w MEANS 

When they see or hear the word "Fancy-Work," many people think 
only of Art Needlework. But as used by The Modern Priscilla, the 
expression "Fancy-Work" has a much broader meaning. It includes not 
only Embroidery, in all its manifold varieties, but it includes as well such 
feminine handicrafts and occupations as Knittino. Crochet, Lace-making, 
Weaving, Netting. Tatting, Batketry, Bead-u>ork, Oil, Water-color, and 
China Painting, Stenciling, AH Bran Work, Art Leather Work, Pyrog- 
raphy, and the like. 

In The Modern Priscilla space is devoted to all these subjects from 
time to time, and no other magazine covers them half so thoroughly. 

WHAT PRISCILLA GIVES 

In connection with what is broadly termed "Fancy-Work," THE 
Modern Priscilla gives a three-fold service: 1. It supplies designs in 
infinite variety and of rare beauty (from 50 to 100 each month), with pat- 
terns for those who desire them. 2. It gives detailed and explicit in- 
struction, so clear and complete that any woman of average intelligence 
can gain proficiency in the work that most appeals to her. 3. It provides 
a wealth of suggestions for the practical use and application of the knowl- 
edge thus gained. 

HOW FASHIONS FIT IN 

This last service is especially noticeable in the Fashion Department, 
where in addition to sane and sensible adaptations of the latest modes, 
the use of the most appropriate embroidery is pictured and described in 
connection with each costume illustrated. 

HOW PRISCILLA SAVES ITS COST 

"Fancy-Work," it will now be seen, at least the " Fancy- Work" that 
The Modern Priscilla stands for, is no frivolous occupation for idle 
hours, but a decidedly useful occupation, that will supply at small cost 
many a dainty bit of wearing apparel or household decoration that could 
otherwise be had only at considerable expense, or perhaps could not be 
afforded at all. 

Many a subscriber has gratefully acknowledged this debt to Priscilla, 
more than a few asserting that a tingle copy has often suggested econ- 
omies amounting to more than the year's subscription price. 

HOW A GOOD MAGAZINE WAS MADE BETTER 

Much as can truthfully be said about the "Fancy-Work" value of 
The Modern Priscilla, scarcely half the story has been told. 

In 1911 the publishers of The Modern Priscilla purchased the well 
known domestic science magazine called " Everyday Housekeeping," and 
in due season merged it with their older publication, making what has 
well been called a "Double Value Magazine." 

THE MISSION OF "EVERYDAY HOUSEKEEPING " 

"Everyday Housekeeping" is now a distinct and separate section of 
The Modern Priscilla, and it is the aim of the editors to make it of the 
greatest possible helpfulness to Priscilla readers. 

Its recipes are economical, appetizing and nourishing, its special 
articles are authoritative and deal with practical subjects, its hints, helps 
and suggestions are gleaned from the experience of housekeepers the 
country over. 

THE PRICE SMALL -THE VALUE UNUSUAL 

When all the foregoing is considered, even the most critical must ad- 
mit that at $1.00 a year The Modern Priscilla is an exceptional value 
(Canadian subscription price, $1.25) and that its steady growth in circu- 
lation from a few hundred copies 25 years ago to nearly 400,000 to-day is 
but the natural outcome of its policy of helpfulness. 

The news-stand price of The Modern Priscilla is 10 cents a copy. 
Orders for subscriptions should be sent to The Priecilla Publishing Com- 
pany, SS Broad Street, Boston, Idas*. 



